I&A Mag Dec15

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ISSUE 131 - DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016

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3

BEAUTY & FASHION 6

Time for Some TLC

10 Beauty Gifts That Won’t

Break The Bank 12 Time for a New Tradition

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT 20 Recipe: Stollen 23 Hadley Park House Hotel

Announces £100,000

Refurbishment Programme

MOTORS & LEISURE 34 Jaguar F-Pace

Welcome to the latest edition of ‘In and Around’. Your LOCAL magazine, helping you to find businesses and services in and around your area.

EDITOR Fleur Abel

T: 01952 603457

I would like wish all my readers and advertisers a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year - thank you all for your continued support again this year!!

ADVERTISING SALES Sarah Kent

This year I reached my 10 year anniversary and having moved to an A4 size magazine in March, it has been a very exciting year for In and Around!

39 Top Tyre Care Tips

Please continue to support our LOCAL businesses by using their services where possible.

40 Kyoto - Japan

Enjoy your read...

38 BMW X1

E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

M: 07889 762 689 E: sarah@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Kate Dalgliesh M: 0785 44 70 343

Fleur

HEALTH & FITNESS 44 Make Chrsitmas Healthier and Happier

E: kate@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Total distribution to 30,000 homes across 2 months.

15,000 copies are delivered to Area A one month and then the next month to another 15,000 homes in Area B, so each area receives the magazine once every other month.

46 Soft Tissue Injuries 48 Nicotine without the Nasties 50 Christmas Gift Ideas

HOME INTERIORS

AREA A

52 New Year, New Style?

54 Tips to Survive Those Long

Distance Family Gatherings

Edgmond

Church Aston

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

ine’ und Magaz ‘In and Aro

n Areas

Lilleshall

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

The Humbers

Bratton

CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ACTIVITIES

A5

Trench

Hadley

Wellington A5223

78 Finding Gifts For The

“Nothing I Need” Brigade

HOME IMPROVEMENTS & SERVICES 82 Best Tech for Christmas 86 Books: Great Christmas Gifts

COMMUNITY & WHAT’S ON

St Georges

Red Lake

J6

Lawley & Overdale

A442

Oakengates

Ketley M54

M54

Old Park Lawley Bank

Lawley Village

Dawley

Shifnal

Delivered Door to Door

Aqueduct A4169

Madeley Ironbridge

A442

Great Hay

Booking/Copy deadline for the JANUARY 2016 issue is Wednesday 9th December 2015

92 Movies - Coming Soon

4

A464

A442

Stirchley

Horsehay

Lightmoor Village

A41

J4

A464

Dawley Bank

A5223

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Priorslee J5

The Rock

69 What are the Signs of Dental

Problems in Your Rabbit 74 Make Room for Guests at Christmas

Donnington Wood

Apley Leegomery

J7

Total distribution 30,000 homes

Muxton

Donnington

Shawbirch

Admaston

70 Buying a Bespoke Kitchen

A518

A442

64 What type of financial help is

available for first time buyers?

68 COMPETITION - Win a Family

Pass to Ironbridge Museums

A41

Distributio

56 Growing Fruit Trees

60 Celebrating a Life - How the

UK has Embraced

Independent Funerals

Newport

Tibberton

www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

AREA B PRINTED BY: Precision Colour Printing Ltd, Haldane, Halesfield 1, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ We gratefully acknowledge the support of businesses whose adverts appear in In and Around Magazine, and whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that permission has been given for use in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. Any reproduction of any material is forbidden without the written consent of the publishers.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for views expressed by contributors, or for the accuracy of claims made by advertisers.

BEAUTY & FASHION

Wishing you..

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your custom, friendship & support throughout the year.

We would also like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

We look forward to seeing you Best wishes Gary and the Team

COLOUR SERVICE Introducing

VALID UNTIL 30TH SEP 15 Teamwww.escape-telford.co.uk Madeley Sam, Beth,

~

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SPECIAL OFFER

Welcoming Sam back to Escape in Madeley & also a warm welcome to Kirsty

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GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE (order online or purchase from any salon) Wellington Salon Madeley Salon 7 Bell Street, Wellington TF1 1LS

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T: 01952 246003

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9 Cheapside, Shifnal TF11 8BN

www.escape-telford.co.uk 5

Beauty

TIME FOR SOME TLC

The kids are running you ragged, your boss seems to think you’re on 24 hour call and your other half has commandeered the TV. It’s time to pour yourself a glass of wine, turn the music up and lock yourself away for a much needed pampering session.

First off, a decent face mask is a must. Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask, £23, is a good choice. Rose clay penetrates your pores for a really deep clean, while Canadian willowherb helps to give you your ‘glow’ back.

When you wash the mask off, jojoba beads gently exfoliate your skin. Other ingredients include Persian silk tree (an anti-irritant), along with several essential oils. It’s a real treat for your senses as well as your skin, as it smells divine.

Special event coming up? If your skin is really in need of an instant pick-me up, try Roloxin Lift Instant Smoothing Masque instead. Combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica particles, the mask smoothes skin and gives a brighter appearance in minutes, with results lasting up to 24 hours.

In a clinical trial, 95% of users reported a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. I certainly noticed a difference after using it – my skin felt softer, tighter and less puffy. A box of 10 applications costs £79, so it isn’t cheap, but it’s worth having on hand for special occasions.

I do love a good multi-tasker, and cocoa butter certainly meets that job description. You can use it for everything from smoothing split ends to soothing eczema; it’s particularly good as a body butter. Not all cocoa body butters are equally as effective however; some are heavily diluted with water and packed with preservatives, colours, artificial perfumes and so on. If you’re looking for a body butter that really delivers results, I recommend Mixtress Jamaican Cocoa Body Butter – a blend of organic cocoa butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil, which smells wonderfully chocolatey and really helps to nourish your skin.

A 150ml tub costs £9.95, and a little goes a long way, so it offers great value for money.

When it comes to your hair, try a hair mask by Italian brand Green Energy Organics. There are several different masks available, all priced at £15.50 and available from www. millabaci.com. La Recolte des Fleur D’Orange, for example, is a powerful blend of fatty acids and fruit extracts, including orange flower, pomegranate, rose, chamomile and grape.

It’s specially formulated to give a real boost to coloured, damaged or lacklustre hair. You only need to leave the mask on for 10 minutes, but for best results sit back and relax for at least an hour.

In need of a restful night’s sleep? Lavender has been used to help people to drift off for centuries. Add it to Epsom salts and you have a combination that eases aches and pains, exfoliates your skin and improves sleep. (I did mention that I love a good multi-tasker didn’t I?) Dr Teal’s Soothe and Sleep could well become your all-time favourite bath product, and as it’s available from George Home at ASDA, you can pick it up with your grocery shopping.

6

by Kate Duggan www.kateduggan.co.uk

Based in the village of Shifnal, Shropshire, you will find the gorgeous 5-Star Boutique Hair and Beauty Salon, ASHLEY GAMBLE.

SARAH As one of our newest colourists, Sarah has taken Ashley Gamble by storm. We wanted our third colourist to complete a trio of excellence, welcoming her to the UK’s hottest colouring team shows how special we think she is. We can’t wait for her to get her hands on you.

#NewGambleColourTechnician 7

Celebrate in style

WEDDINGS FROM £1999 Based on 50 day guests and 70 evening guests all inclusive.

VALENTINE’s Wedding Fayre Sunday 28th February 2016 11am – 3pm

A wide selection of around 30 wedding professionals to provide inspiration for the big day including cars, cakes, photographers and favours.

Offer exclusive to In and Around magazine readers subject to terms and conditions. Call for details &

quote In & Around Wedding Offer.

Hadley Park House Telford TF1 6JQ

8

• 01952 677269 •

info@hadleypark.co.uk

Free admission Free car parking

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www.hadleypark.co.uk

SUAVE AND SOPHISTICATED

Christmas Party Style

Christmas parties are all about full-on glamour for girls and suave sophistication for guys, so this season smarten-up and try-out a polished new look.

Jacket £59, Trousers £30, Shirt £18, Bow Tie £8, Pocket Square £6.

All Burton

Here are our top Christmas party picks for the guys:

Jacket £80, Trousers £40, Shirt £18, Scarf £14.

All Burton

Evening Modern Concealed Placket Shirt £99. Jaeger Gunmetal Shiny Check Bow Tie £40.

Kenneth Cole at House of Fraser

Watch £85.

Jeff Banks at Debenhams

'Roulette' Shoes £95. Dune

9

Beauty

BEAUTY GIFTS THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK

Beauty gifts need to be a little bit decadent.

The recipient should feel truly pampered, and will appreciate that you haven’t just picked up a run-of-the-mill gift set with your supermarket shopping. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to max the credit card out this Christmas. So, here are our top picks for great value skin and body care gift sets, starting from under a fiver.

A GIFT FOR YOUR MUM

Pai

have released a limited edition version of their bestselling Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil, for £22. This oil the darling of the beauty media and packs a pretty powerful anti-aging punch. It’s the most concentrated rosehip oil on the market, and has been shown to offer visible skin healing benefits, including improving skin firmness, and minimising the appearance of scars, stretch marks, sun damage and fine lines. It also feels lovely to apply.

i s

FOR YOUR SISTER

Neal’s Yard Uplifting Jasmine & Ylang Ylang Organic Collection includes a shower gel and body cream, and is a real bargain at £15. As well as smelling absolutely divine, the products are very nourishing, so are ideal for the cold winter months. Packaged in a pretty gift box, this set is sure to go down a treat.

STOCKING FILLERS If stockings are still the best part of your Christmas morning, you’ll love Narynda’s sample pots.

Choose between the Body Care Pack at £5, and the Face Care Pack at £7.50, then just wrap each item separately. They both offer great value for money, and are ideal for a weekend away. Narynda’s products are formulated from some of nature’s finest skin soothers, including oat oil, grapefruit oil and beeswax, so they’re a good choice for sensitive skin.

SECRET SANTA The prettily packaged soaps by Akamuti are 100% natural and handmade. The Rose

Beauty

Soap

Bar

contains shea butter, olive oil and cocoa butter, along with luxurious rose oil. A bar costs £4.75 and is a much more thoughtful choice for a co-worker than the usual box of chocolates or gift voucher.

FOR A FRIEND Who wouldn’t want to receive the gift of beautiful hair? KMS California has released three gift sets this Christmas, each containing a shampoo, conditioner, two styling products and a hair accessory. Choose the desired results from Tame Frizz, Moist Repair and Add Volume. Each set retails at £29.95.

FOR A PARTY HOST If you fancy giving your host something a bit more imaginative than a bottle of wine or bunch of flowers, a gift set from B Skincare is a great choice. The lavender scented B Relaxed set is particularly relevant at this hectic time of year, and at £12.50 it won’t break the bank. Handmade in Cornwall by a small family business, B Skincare make seriously luxurious products, at pocket-friendly prices.

ONE FOR THE BOYS Buying for a man who understands the importance of good skincare? The Elemis Perfect Man giftset should go down a treat. The set comprises Ice Cool Foaming Gel (for shaving), Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for Men, Aching Muscle Super Soak and two sachets of Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks. At £49 it isn’t cheap, but as it includes £77.50 worth of products, it is great value for money.

by Kate Duggan - www.kateduggan.co.uk

10

11

Time for a New Tradition For many of us, New Year traditions may have dwindled to a rather slurred singing of Auld Lang Syne as the chimes of Big Ben fade. But in times gone by, New Year traditions were strongly upheld - and still are in many places. Why not adopt or renew one of them this New Year?

IN 2016

Music has always been a feature of New Year celebrations worldwide, but a few rounds of Guitar Hero might suit your budget better – and although Auld Lang Syne, a traditional song transcribed by Robert Burns and made famous by bandleader Guy Lombardo, is easily the most popular New Year song in English-speaking communities, perhaps you could write a new one. Many countries have a host of traditional New Year songs – why not us?

While we’re not suggesting you fire guns at midnight, as many people once did, you could beat drums as they do in Switzerland, blow party horns or bang saucepans Filipino-style, or arm yourself with a gong, following the Buddhist Temple tradition of striking it 108 times at midnight to expel the 108 human weaknesses.

Lucky New Year Nibbles It’s a tradition in Spain to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock, making a wish as you eat each one. The grapes are meant to bring twelve months of happiness, and the tradition is found in Central and South America too, although in some places the tradition is to try to fit as many of the twelve grapes into the mouth as is possible.

In the southern US, Hoppin’ John, a traditional dish of black-eyed peas and ham hocks, is meant to ensure a year of plenty, while Italians eat one spoonful of lentil stew with each toll of the bell at midnight, as the round lentils represent coins and good fortune. In Germany it’s tiny marzipan pigs that bring luck.

In Greece, the hostess places jewellery on a plate on the table to symbolise prosperity in the coming year, and their Vassilopitta (King’s Pie), a cake flavoured with almonds, is cooked with a silver or gold coin inside, which brings blessings to the finder. The Portugese also have a King Cake, or Bolo-Rei, which resembles a crown and conceals a fava bean meant to bring luck, although this is debatable, as the finder has to pay for the Bolo-Rei the next year (a toy or prize was also included but has been removed for safety reasons).

In Estonia, seven, nine and twelve are lucky numbers, and some people believe that eating seven, nine, or twelve times on New Year’s Eve will give them the strength of as many men as meals they have consumed. Follow this one if you like, but it may fast track you on to a diet.

Get Dressed Up and Make Some Noise In the Philippines, people wear clothes with spots to represent coins and good luck. In Brazil, people celebrating at the beach usually wear white to bring good fortune, while in Spain and Italy, red underwear is believed to achieve the same thing.

In South America, they opt for coloured underwear too: red for finding love, gold for gaining wealth and white for peace.

Mexicans also decorate their homes colourfully. Red signifies finding love for them too, but yellow signifies improved employment, green brings improved finances and white promises better health. Perhaps a request for new underwear for Christmas could be doubly beneficial if you specify the colour?

12

Out with the Old and In with the New The tradition of first-footing has dwindled but still clings on in some parts of the UK, particularly in Scotland, and variations exist abroad too. The belief is that the first foot through your door after midnight dictates your household’s luck for the year. Tall, dark visitors are meant to be especially lucky, as are new mothers, new brides or those born on New Year’s Day. As visitors come bearing traditional gifts - coal for the fire, shortbread, salt, coins and maybe a tot of whisky – it’s worth a revival.

At one time, Italians would discard old or unused items by dropping them from a window, but don’t try this at home.

In Denmark they break old plates at the door of family and friends, but cleaning your house as the Japanese do may be safer. Or why not make a bonfire with the Christmas tree, as they do in the Netherlands? While it’s burning, throw on a list of last year’s bad events, Mexican-style, or burn last year’s unwanted photographs and clothes as they do in Ecuador.

In Costa Rica and Venezuela, people run around their house or across the street dragging luggage, hoping for new adventures and good luck when travelling in the upcoming year. You may find leaving an appropriately marked travel brochure under your partner’s nose more effective, though.

New Resolutions The Babylonians, who supposedly ‘invented’ New Year’s resolutions, returned borrowed farm machinery and tried to start the year with no debts (as many Russians apparently do).

That sounds like as good as resolution as any...

by Alison Runham - www.alison-runham.co.uk

BEAUTY & FASHION

Established 1979

New Website www.lloydjewellers.co.uk Email: info@lloydjewellers.co.uk On-site Jewellery Workshop

Bridal Jewellery

2-4 New Street, Wellington, Shropshire TF1 1NE

83 High Street, Newport, Shropshire TF10 7AY

7 King Street, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1AQ

Tel: 01952 249632

Tel: 01952 813399

Tel: 01584 874937

Beauty by Jude

ALL IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

CND Shellac goes on like a polish but wears like a gel.

A 14 day glorious high gloss shine with zero dry time, no nail damage and can be Shellac removed in around 10 minutes.

Nails £18 per set ALSO AVAILABLE...

• Full Leg, Half Leg, Bikini, Underarm & Facial Waxing • Lash & Brow Tinting • Back & Shoulder Massage • Indian Head Massage • Manicure & Pedicure • Facial Treatments

Ladies

magazine

Sales Executive Would you like to join a friendly team working for the largest magazine in the Telford area?

Sales experience is essential, preferably in a similar industry including magazine, newspaper or radio sales. Own transport is also essential.

Pamper Evenings

This position can be either full-time or part-time and a basic wage will be offered along with a commission structure.

Call for details

Please apply by emailing your CV and give details of your current salary details.

Available from £10 Per Person

CALL JUDE INGRAM ON 07814 671 848

Email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

13

The Little Black Dress

Your Christmas Party Must-Have

By Helen Taylor

For instant glamour this party season look no further than a little black dress.

Necklace £25. Betty Jackson Black

There’s plenty of reasons why this timeless style-staple has never gone out of fashion; it’s chic, easy-to-wear, suits women of any age and is sure to flatter every figure.

Right now the high street is filled with plenty of modern versions of this classic design. Lace, sheer panels and sequin embellishments are key in bringing the LBD thoroughly up-to-date this winter.

Once you’ve found your perfect style, use statement jewellery and accessories to change your look, so that you can attend all of your Christmas parties wearing your new favourite dress.

And, don’t forget that every LBD needs to be worn with a fabulous pair of heels!

Black Lace Off-the-Shoulder Dress £55.00. Wallis

Dress £225. Jenny Packham at Debenhams

'Marigold' Dress £119. Monsoon

Necklace £25. Butterfly

by Matthew Willimson at Debenhams

14

Lace Detail Maxi Dress £85.00. Next Velvet Dress £60. Next

Heels £45.

Faith at Debenhams

Dress £27.99, Stole £19.99, Ring Set £12.99. All New Look

Dress £22.99, Stole £9.99, Shoes £29.99. All New Look

Lace and Sequin Bodycon Dress £75.00. Lipsy

Dress £34.99, Shoes £19.99.

New Look

Earrings £7.99. New Look

Metallic Lace Overlay Hardcase Bag £32. Accessorize

'Orlando' Strappy Sandals £85. Ravel

15

Restaurant Review

FINDING THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN AND AROUND SHROPSHIRE

THE ORCHARD

High Street, Newport TF10 7BH

T: 01952 872700

The Orchard is a brand new restaurant located in the heart of historic Newport. The charming old school house building has been sympathetically renovated with smart signage, topiary and lights adorning the frontage.

Inside the dĂŠcor is classy and tasteful; candlelit tables are well spaced with fine linen tablecloths and napkins giving an upmarket feel. Inside the entrance is a small seating area and a hatch through to the kitchen, allowing a brief glimpse behind the scenes and a warm welcome from the chef himself as you arrive.

Head Chef Peter Roberts and his wife Sarah opened The Orchard six months ago, Peter has over 25 years experience in the industry and together the husband and wife team also run a successful catering business. Their aim with The Orchard is to offer a fresh and vibrant fine dining experience with friendly service and relaxed atmosphere.

On arrival were greeted by owner Sarah Roberts and shown to a lovely bay window table where we were given chance to peruse the menus. The wine list is ample with plenty of choice to suit all tastes and budgets; we both ordered a glass of the house Merlot and iced water for the table.

After our drinks were served we were presented with complimentary appetisers, which comprised a delicate cherry tomato stuffed with mozzarella and basil finished with a drizzle of balsamic dressing, this was a lovely unexpected touch and set the tone for an enjoyable meal ahead.

For starters I opted for asparagus wrapped in Parma ham and my friend Sara chose the king prawns with chilli ice cream. While we waited for our starters we were served fresh rustic bread with butter and tapenade.

16

The starters arrived artistically presented on long slim plates, the portion sizes were just right for starters. My asparagus was perfectly tender and the Parma ham wrapped around the stems added a moreish savoury taste, it was topped with a softly poached egg and a drizzle of balsamic dressing, the flavours worked together beautifully and I enjoyed every bite.

Sara commented that her prawns were juicy and well cooked with a hint of lime, the chilli ice-cream worked exceptionally well with the prawns, the slight sweetness and coolness of the ice cream coming through first then a moment later the warmth of the chilli hit the palate, this dish really is a taste sensation.

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT After our plates were cleared we were presented with fresh lemon sorbets to cleanse the palate, this was another nice touch and it’s this sort of attention to detail that makes dining at The Orchard truly special.

For main course Sara chose the roast duck with cherry sauce and I couldn’t resist the slow roasted lamb with apricot and honey. Once again the presentation of the mains was top notch and the portion sizes were ideal. Sara’s duck breast was cooked to perfection, with crispy skin yet moist and tender meat, it was served with a decadent cherry sauce with whole poached cherries, a selection of fresh steamed greens and battered broccoli.

My lamb was also delicious, served on a bed of sweet pumpkin mash, with battered broccoli, steamed asparagus, sugar snap peas and green beans, it was well-cooked and very flavoursome, the pumpkin mash complimented the sweetness of the lamb perfectly.

The dessert menu is basically a compilation of deliciousness. The Orchards Junior chef Charlotte has a penchant for patisserie and desserts and was recently awarded 3rd place in The Taste of Staffordshire awards. After a long deliberation I opted for the orange and apricot bread and butter pudding and Sara went for the Ferrero Roche cheesecake. The bread and butter pudding was wonderful, very light and fluffy and so moreish, it was served with a warm crème anglaise and was the perfect ending to a fabulous meal.

Sara’s dessert was also beautifully presented and comprised a duo of chocolate cheesecakes, served with mascarpone cream and a tiny chocolate spoon. The cheesecake was rich and chocolaty, with a chunky crumbly biscuit base, topped with Ferrero Roche chocolates, what’s not to love!

We both thoroughly enjoyed dining at The Orchard, the delicious food, relaxed ambience and attention to detail from start to finish made this a meal to remember. The Orchard is the ideal venue for a special meal with family and friends or a romantic dinner with that special someone, so if you appreciate fine food and wine then The Orchard is definitely a must visit destination.

Reviewed by Charlie Scott and Sara Phillips

For a fine dining experience

Dine with us this Christmas.

Open for Lunch and Dinner

Wednesday - Sunday 12.00-3.00 & 6.00-11.00pm

Special parties catered for Gala New Years Eve Dinner Book online: www.orchard-dining.co.uk Telephone 01952 872700 128 High Street, Newport, Shropshire TF10 7BH

17

Green Fields Christmas 5th & 6th December 10am - 4pm Donnington Store

All under cover and plenty of free parking no entrAnce fee!

Our biggest ever festival with over fifty of the region’s finest producers sampling and selling their products!

Featuring

Cooper’s Gourmet Sausage Rolls Mr Moyden’s Cheese Hobson’s Brewery Halfpenny Green Vineyard Fordhall Farm

Sales & Lettings

DONNINGTON T 01952 677 345 PRIORSLEE T 01952 200 696 Station Road, Donnington TF2 8JY

Woodhouse Lane, off Salisbury Avenue, Priorslee TF2 9UR

E info@greenfieldsonline.co.uk • www.greenfieldsonline.co.uk

Christmas TV 1. A 2008 Christmas special of which TV show saw Dave Coaches get engaged to Nessa Jenkins?

2. Miracle On Evergreen Terrace is the title of a special Christmas episode of which TV show?

3. In an animated TV special that was first broadcast in 1965, who was feeling depressed because Christmas had become too commercialised?

4. Made into TV films broadcast at Christmas in 2012, 2013 and 2014, which comedy star wrote the children’s books Mr Stink, Gangsta Granny and The Boy In The Dress?

5. Diamonds Are For Heather, Miami Twice and To Hull And Back were all titles of Christmas special episodes of which TV sitcom?

6. Who played the title character in The Runaway Bride, the 2006 Doctor Who Christmas special?

7. Who read out the first Royal Christmas Message to be televised?... King George V, King George VI or Queen Elizabeth II? 8. Which EastEnders character was murdered on Christmas Day in 2009?

9. In the 2013 Christmas TV advert for John Lewis, what did the hare get the bear as a Christmas present?

10. Where in London did Elisabeth Beresford take her children for a walk one Boxing Day when one of them pronounced the name of this place wrong, giving her the inspiration for a group of TV characters?

18

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Many of our readers love to eat out and try new restaurants - they could be booking a table with you!

Be seen in 30,000 homes across Telford, Newport & Shifnal areas and entice some NEW customers to your restaurant!

For further details call Fleur on 01952 603457 or email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

19

Recipe - Cake & Bake

STOLLEN

This spiced and fruity Continental sweet bread is perfect for serving over the festive season with a glass of warm mulled wine.

Makes 10-12 slices Ready in about 3 hours

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

50g butter 175ml milk 3 tbsp caster sugar 375g strong plain white flour, plus extra for kneading 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp ground mixed spice 2 tsp fast-action dried yeast Zest of 1 lemon 1 large egg, beaten 125g raisins 25g chopped mixed peel 50g glace cherries, rinsed, dried and quartered 175g marzipan Melted butter, for brushing Icing sugar, for dusting

1. Put the butter, milk and caster sugar in a small pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.

2. Sift the flour, salt and mixed spice into a large bowl and stir in the dried yeast. Make a well in the centre and stir in the milk mixture, lemon zest and egg. Mix together with a round-bladed knife to form a soft and sticky dough.

3. Turn the dough onto a well floured surface and knead for 5-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. At first the dough will be quite sticky so add more flour as necessary.

4. Flatten out the dough and knead in the raisins, cherries and peel until just combined. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for about 1� hours, or until doubled in size.

5. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes, then roll out to a 25cm square. Shape the marzipan into a sausage shape and place down the centre of the dough. Fold one side over to cover the marzipan then repeat with the other side, overlapping in the centre. Seal the ends. Place seam-side down on a greased baking sheet.

Cover with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 190°C, fan 170°C, gas 5.

6. Bake the stollen for 35-45 minutes until golden and sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Brush the hot stollen all over with melted butter and roll in the icing sugar to coat.

Leave to cool.

20

Chrwisitthmas

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

with

Shropshire Turkeys Free Range Geese and Chickens Kelly Bronze Turkeys Shropshire Three Turkeys Bird Roasts and Bakewell DucksOrder your Christmas birds and Free Nutroasts Range Geese forand the Chickens vegetarian guests meats online or instore for collection on 23rd or 24th December.

All sourced from local, friendly farms!

Kelly Bronze Turkeys

Three Bird Roasts and Bakewell Ducks

Order Online or Instore

Nutroasts for the vegetarian guests

Order your Christmas birds and meats online or instore for collection on 23rd or 24th December.

All sourced from local, friendly farms!

Order your gala pork pies, desserts and home made treats to collect Christmas week.

Order your gala pork pies, desserts and home made treats to collect Christmas week.

budget, for corporate or personal gifts.

budget, for corporate or personal gifts.

Times ng ni pe O as Christm

Saturday 19th 8.00am - 6.00pm Sunday 20th 10.00am - 5.00pm Monday 21st 8.00am - 6.00pm Tuesday 22nd 8.00am - 6.00pm Wednesday 23rd 7.30am - 7.00pm Christmas Eve 7.30am - 4.00pm

Christmas Day Eating Boxing Day Sleeping

Sunday 27th 10.00am - 4.00pm (Priorslee Closed) MondaySaturday 28th 10.00am 5.00pm- 6.00pm 20th -8.00am Tuesday 29th 10.00am - 5.00pm Sunday 21st 10.00am - 6.00pm Wednesday 30th 10.00am - 5.00pm Monday 22nd 8.00am - 6.00pm New Years Eve 9.00am - 5.00pm Tuesday 23rd 7.30am - 7.00pm New Years Day Closed Christmas Eve 7.30am - 4.00pm Saturday 2nd Jan 10.00am - 5.00pm Christmas Day Eating Boxing Day Sleeping

Saturday 27th 10.00am - 4.00pm (Priorslee Closed) Sunday 28th 10.00am - 5.00pm Monday 29th 10.00am - 5.00pm Tuesday 30th 10.00am - 5.00pm New Years Eve 9.00am - 4.30pm New Years Day Closed Friday 2nd Jan 10.00am - 5.00pm

Pop-in and see us at: Green Fields Farm Shop Donnington

Station Road, Donnington, Telford TF2 8JY • T: 01952 677345

Priorslee

Woodhouse Lane, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9UR • T: 01952 200696

• Wenlock Edge, Fordhall Farm, Malcolm Wickstead’s & Buttercross Meats • Vegetables, Herbs, Salads, Fruits & Nuts • Home Made Cakes & Goodies • Fresh Bread, Milk, Tea & Coffee

• Huge Range of Cheese and Deli Products • Beers, Wines & Ciders • Rice, Pasta and Sauces • Special Dietary Products & much more...

21

Shrewsbury Christmas 12TH & 13TH DECEMBER 2015 Welcome to Shrewsbury Christmas 2015; a brand new festival creating a Christmas wonderland in the The Quarry Park in the heart of the town centre; more than 160 food, drink and crafts producers alongside fun and festive magic to have Christmas all wrapped up on the 12th & 13th December.

But this is a Christmas festival with a difference, and alongside the shopping, drinking and dining we have hands on activities and learning for all the family. Always wanted to create the perfect Christmas wreath for your front door, or learn to wrap your gifts they deserve, be sure to check out our hands on workshops by our expert team of Christmas creators. There’s also plenty do do for FREE for the kids as well, they can enjoy festive storytime with Mrs Claus, craft workshops with Compost kids and much more. There’s an icerink for big kids and little kids to enjoy, spa to be pampered in, a climbing wall and a music stage with singalong carols each day at 3pm.

Christmas is all about sharing the most wonderful time of the year with those close to us. But it is often the winter months that we remember those less fortunate than ourselves and that’s why we’ve chosen to support fantastic local charity the Shrewsbury Ark. What is special about the Ark is that it provides a place with comfort, food, support and smiles for the most vulnerable in our community. It’s a safe haven in the heart of Shrewsbury, providing practical and emotional support for those in need or distress. Shrewsbury Christmas are proud to support the Shrewsbury Ark. Book tickets NOW www.shrewsburychristmas.co.uk

12th & 13th December 2015 Would you like to see over 150 amazing food, drink and craft producers, to be able to buy your festive food and gifts?

Imagine a HUGE marquee covering the Shrewsbury Quarry, with twinkling lights, an ice rink, Christmas carols and much more...

All of your shopping problems solved!

• 150+ exhibitors of the best food, drink and handmade crafts • FREE hands on craft and food workshops • Free kids entertainment • Carol Singing • Ice Rink

www.shrewsburychristmas.co.uk £5 adults, £1 children, £10 families

SUDOKU’S Quality Balti Restaurant & Take Away

REFURBISHED & FULLY AIR CONDITIONED

Easy

Book NOW for

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH

5 Course Meal

£22.95 (children £14.95)

FREE Home Delivery within a 6 mile radius (minimum order of £10)

10% DISCOUNT ON COLLECTIONS ONLY Open: Sun-Thu: 5pm - 11.30pm • Fri & Sat: 5pm - Midnight

rear of 2-4 High Street, Newport TF10 7A

01952 825505

www.thetasteofparadise.co.uk We are not licensed bring your own alcohol 22

Hard

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

Hadley Park House Hotel

Hadley Park House Hotel has embarked on a refurbishment programme estimated at over £100,000. The project focuses on the hotel’s Georgian building. All 12 bedrooms in the original house are being refurbished with complete redecoration and the installation of new carpets, lighting, hard and soft furnishings.

The hotel’s conservatory restaurant Dorrells and adjacent bar is also having a refresh, with a lick of paint, new lighting and the extensive wood floor being taken back to reveal the original floorboards.

New carpets will be laid in the hotel’s entrance and reception area. The refurbishment of the restaurant, bar and reception area is almost complete and it is estimated that all bedrooms will be refurbished by the end of the year.

Owners of Hadley Park House Hotel Mark Lewis and Geraldine Lewis said: “We strive to continually provide exceptional standards and this extends not just from our food quality and service, but also to the look and feel of the hotel. The hotel bedrooms in the original house are being sympathetically upgraded. Many of the rooms have original features that we are keen to preserve so the new furniture and soft furnishings will give a contemporary edge whilst retaining the charm and character

ANNOUNCES £100,000 REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME of the room. They will also remain functional, so that any corporate guests can use their dedicated in-room workspace but will also be cosy and comfortable for any guests staying for leisure or as part of a function. Guest comfort is a priority so there are finishing touches such as mattress toppers etc. Along with the bedrooms, the restaurant is also being refreshed with new lighting and flooring. Again, we have been careful to be sympathetic to the building and the conservatory. This room is also popular for Civil Ceremonies so we will ensure it remains and intimate, stylish setting.

“We were keen to ensure that the public areas such as the conservatory, bar and reception were completed ahead of Christmas so we are pleased that these are now finished. As we have 22 bedrooms, we are juggling the refurbishment of the bedrooms around business so as not to impede guests during their stay. Therefore, the refurbishment of the bedrooms will take a little longer but will be complete early in the New Year. This is a really exciting time for the entire team and we would love local people to pop in and see the changes!”

Hadley Park House Hotel was voted Best Town Wedding Venue in the West Midlands at the 2015 Wedding Industry Awards. The hotel has 1 AA Rosette for food quality.

We’ve got Christmas covered for all occasions...

Festive Events

Candlelit Gourmet Valentine Dinner 13th & 14th February Gourmet 4 course dinner

with a special gift for your loved one

Festive Afternoon Tea from £14.95pp

£50 per person

Festive Lunches 2 courses £16.95pp

Stay over for £100 per room (based on two people sharing)

or 3 courses £21.95

Festive Dinners from £26pp

Christmas Party Nights from £26pp

(Available dates are Friday 4th, Saturday 5th, Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd December)

Festive Cabaret Evenings from £25pp (10th and 20th December still have availability)

Christmas Day Lunch (SOLD OUT)

Early Bird Menu Between 6 & 7pm

15% OFF Total Bill

Boxing Day Lunch £34.95pp

Sunday Lunches

(children 3-12 £17.50, Under 3 £5 cover charge)

2 courses £15.95 or 3 courses £20.95

New Year’s Eve 5 courses £89.50pp Hadley Park House Telford TF1 6JQ

Afternoon Tea from £9.95pp

• 01952 677269 •

info@hadleypark.co.uk

•

www.hadleypark.co.uk

23

Restaurant Review

FINDING THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN AND AROUND SHROPSHIRE

This months review is a little different as we were not only eating the food but also cooking it, with the expert help of Lajina from Masala Magic.

makes them a very healthy option. All the spices you need to create perfect curries in one pot and the exquisite spice blend is so versatile, by tweaking the flavours you can create, Jalfrezi, Kormas, Tikka Masala and Rogan Josh style dishes.

Masala Magic was created two years ago by Lajina Leal who has a passion for good, healthy and tasty authentic home style Indian food, as eaten at home for many generations. Lajina said, “I was encouraged by my friends whilst out eating in an Indian restaurant to start my own business, they much preferred my style of home cooking than the dishes offered commercially.�

SInce creating the pots Lajina has gone on to offer lessons for every level of cook to learn the art of creating superb curries, using Curry Masala Magic Pots or all the herbs and spices from scratch, the choice is yours. With a Curry Masala Magic pot and the addition of a few extra ingredients, the Indian Restaurant and take-away experience, speedily comes alive at a fraction of the cost and calories. As well as curries you can also learn to cook your favourite sides such as bhajis, samosas, spicy rice, Bombay potatoes and chappatties.

Lajina started making her own spice pots which she created with the same flavours that she has used to cook for her family and friends for many years.

The spices are lovingly prepared, roasted and ground before being carefully measured and packed into the pots to make perfectly spiced curries. The pots are a very low fat option compared to cooking using jars of curry paste or sauces, as the pots are low in fat, no salt or sugar and gluten free, which

24

Lessons can be booked at your home and also at work, Lajina has had many bookings for team building sessions which have been very successful and a great fun way to cook together.

We decided to book a family lesson at home as our children also love to cook. Lajina brought all the ingredients with her, we

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT had chosen to make a chicken curry and to make a slightly more creamier option for my girls, Daisy and Poppy. We also decided to make onion bhajis, chappatties, spicy rice and lemon Bombay potatoes to go with our curry.

We all got involved with various bits of preparation and cooking throughout the evening. I prepared the onion bhajies which were then deep fried. Daisy and Poppy had fun making the chappatti mixture and rolling them out; watching them being cooked was interesting to see how they inflated over the heat.

Poppy and I also prepared the finely chopped salad which had some unusual but tasty extras. Nik helped with the rice and potatoes. Poppy and Daisy helped with the curry and Poppy also enjoyed making the mint dip.

We were all starving by the time we finished cooking, although we had all been stealing the onion bhajis throughout the night as they had been cooked first and were delicious, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Daisy and Poppy’s curry had

some coconut milk added to it so it wasn’t quite as hot as ours.

The food was quickly devoured but as we had catered for six we did have some left over. We loved the taste and flavours of all the dishes and were very proud of our achievements from our first Indian cookery lesson - no more take-aways for us!

If you don’t fancy cooking yourself you can always order an Indian buffet which starts at just £99 for six people, there are various menus to choose from which you can view and order online at www.masalamagic.kitchen Lajina made the cooking lesson really fun with her warm and bubbly personality and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Whether you are considering a lesson with the family at home or looking for something different for a corporate event, hen/stag night or any other social gathering, you will have a great time with Lajina.

Reviewed by Fleur ,Nik, Daisy & Poppy Abel

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

Curry Masala Magic Pots are available to purchase at Green Fields Farm Shop at Donnington and Priorslee. You can also order them online.

Why not purchase a gift voucher for a unique Christmas present - call for further details.

Contact Lajina on 01952

30 30 31 E: lajina@masalamagic.kitchen w www.masalamagic.kitchen

MasalaMagicKitchen

@lajina 25

Quality Home Reared Meats

AT WHITEGATE FARM SHOP

The Swift family own and run Whitegate Farm and Farm Shop, situated on the main A5 road nestled between Penkridge and Weston under Lizard. The shop see’s customers returning due to the shops warm, friendly banter and service. If you enjoy high quality, flavoursome meat, and no food miles due to home rearing…then Whitegate Farm Shop is the right choice for you.

The family have been poultry producers for many years now, gaining a wealth of experience of producing to high welfare standards. They ensure all meat and Christmas poultry are hung to mature to produce the best possible flavours. They are proud to offer the traditional white and bronze turkeys, traditionally reared in large open barns, lots of natural light, fresh straw bedded yards, feeding high quality cereal feed - available 24 hours a day, containing no additives or growth promoters and the result, a high quality meat for your table.

Whatever your Christmas meat preference, the expert butchers will help you make the right choice. Turkeys can be presented boned and rolled or as a turkey crown, but perhaps you prefer a traditionally reared ‘Aylesbury’ duck, with its rich, dark, succulent meat? If it’s a real show-stopper you’re after their

three bird roast is the perfect option making a stunning centre piece on any table.

Last, but certainly not least in flavour, is the free-range geese, slowly reared in the fields on natural foods… giving the meat exceptional flavour!

Along with meats, Whitegate Farm Shop pride themselves on their delicious ‘Granny Swifts’ range of home-made products, ideal for the Christmas buffet. Often referred to as the ‘Aladdin’s cave ‘of home reared and home-made food. You can shop in store, shop online for home delivery or click and collect. To see more visit their website or Facebook page.

e Farm Shop t a g e t i Wh itegate Farm e Quality Wh emad d meats, hom home reare ro er one of food all und ne! to buy onli & available

Granny Swift’s range of...

Homemade Meat Pies, Pasties, Pork Pies, Faggots, Cooked Meats, Fruit Pies, Ready Meals, Crumbles, Preserves, Fresh & Frozen Vegetables, Freezer orders taken

Whitegate Farm, Ivetsey Bank, Wheaton Aston, Stafford ST19 9QT (on the main A5 road between The Bell Inn and Cafe India) Visit our online shop for delivery OR collection

26

A shop packed full of everything you need to make Christmas dinner

extra special!

Home-cured Bacon & Gammon, Beef, Lamb & Pork Speciality Sausages & Burgers Free-range Hen & Duck Eggs

We’re Open:

Mon-Fri:8am-6pm, Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 9am-12pm

Christmas Orders now being taken...

Traditional White Turkeys, Bronze Turkeys, Turkey Crown, Three Bird Roast, Ducks, Free Range Geese & Large Chickens

T: 01785 840866 www.whitegate-farm-shop.co.uk

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

The Huntsman SPECIALS of Little Wenlock The • Food Huntsman The served Huntsman Mon-Sat 12 til 9:30pm of Little and Sunday 12 til 7pm ofWenlock Little Wenlock

• Light Bites served 12 til 6pm • Sunday Lunches served 12 til 8pm • Hotel rooms available

2 and 3 course menu from

£10.95

AVAILABLE ALL DAY Mondays to Thursdays Monday & Tuesday 2 Course £10.95 or 3 Course £13.95 Tuesday & Wednesday 2 Course £11.95 or 3 Course £14.95

View our menus online at:

www.thehuntsmanoflittlewenlock.co.uk

Wellington Road, Little Wenlock, Telford TF6 5BH

01952 503300 THE

WHITE HOUSE HOTEL MUXTON

Wellington Road, Muxton, Telford TF2 8NG Food Served: 12pm - 9:30pm 7 days a week

T: 01952 603603 LUNCHTIME SAVER 15% off ALL Food in the Bar or Restaurant

(12-4pm Mon-Sat)

Visit our website to view our latest menu

www.whhotel.co.uk

2 Steaks & Wine for ONLY £25 (available everyday)

27

The Tech Trends for 2016 In many ways 2015 has been an in-between year, with many firms offering slightly updated versions of products they launched last year – so, for example, Apple replaced the iPhone 6 with the iPhone 6S, Samsung updated the Note 4 to the Note 5 and so on. Bigger things are coming in 2016 - so what will be hogging the high-tech headlines? Let’s find out.

WEARABLE COMPUTERS We’ve seen these already, of course, but devices such as the Apple Watch and Android Wear watches were just the first steps. Wearables are getting smarter, their batteries better and their apps more useful, and increased competition means they should get a lot cheaper too. And wearables aren’t just for showing off or for going to the gym: they can help monitor chronic medical conditions too.

WHAT WILL EVERYONE BE TALKING ABOUT?

PRIVACY WORRIES The problem with letting your digital assistants organise everything is that your digital assistants end up knowing everything about you - and possibly sharing that information with marketers or other third parties. The more we let our devices organise our lives and our homes, the more likely a really big privacy scandal is likely to strike.

AD BLOCKING Trouble’s brewing on the internet over advertising. Invasive ads and privacy-invading advertising trackers are making some websites unusable, and more and more of us are blocking those ads - which means the websites aren’t making any money. This issue has been bubbling under for a few years but now that ad-blocking tools are available on mobile devices - something that wasn’t the case until the end of this year - it’s going to be a really big deal in 2016.

WIRELESS CHARGING Some smartphones already charge wirelessly, as do some smartwatches, but this year should see wireless charging become more mainstream: Intel’s new PC processors support it, and there’s a good chance Apple will throw its weight behind it too. The long-promised wire-free world might not be too far off.

STREAMING EVERYTHING If you’re still buying CDs or DVDs you’re in a shrinking minority: more and more TV, music and movies are being streamed over the internet, usually as part of subscription services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. That trend will continue in a big way this year, with streaming firms investing heavily in new programming - so for example Amazon is spending millions to bring the Top Gear trio back to TV on its service. You’ll also see some TV channels going streaming-only, and rival channels appearing on the BBC’s iPlayer.

SMARTER DIGITAL ASSISTANTS Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Google Now are already pretty clever, but they’ll get smarter still this year. Apple, Microsoft and Google are spending big money on hiring artificial intelligence experts, and the goal is to make Siri and Google Now so familiar with your routine that they’ll show you the information you need before you even need it. Their voice recognition will improve too: it’s already good, but if you’ve got a strong accent you’ll know that there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

SMARTER THINGS The Internet of Things has been massively hyped, but it should start to deliver on its promises in 2016. Smart plugs, smart lights, smart cameras, smart TVs, smart locks… if it’s possible to connect it to the internet and control it from a phone, somebody will do it. The automated home might just be on its way, a mere 90 years after it was first predicted.

28

Images top to bottom: Netflix on a TV; Samsung Gear 2 smartwatches; Nest wireless camera; Cortana digital assistant on Windows Phone

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

THE NEW INN

OPENING HOURS

Mon to Thu: Noon - 11pm • Fri to Sun: Noon - Close

Food served:

Mon to Fri: Noon - 2.30pm and 6pm - 9pm Sat: Noon - 9pm Sun: Noon - 6pm (Sunday Roast), 6pm - 9pm (Evening Menu)

FREE DESSERT with this voucher

Valid Monday to Thursday (Valid until 31-1-16, one voucher per person, please present voucher on arrival, T&C’s apply)

Stafford Road, Newport TF10 7LX

www.thenewinnnewport.co.uk

BOOKINGS ADVISABLE

T: 01952 812295

Celebrate the festive season with our sensational Hollywood Party Nights featuring the traditional red carpet, delicious food, sumptuous surroundings and a disco until the early hours.

Dates: 5th, 17th, 18th, 19th December Times: Arrival/welcome drinks: 7.00pm Carriages: 1.00am Price £28.95

Escape the hustle and bustle that is the run up to Christmas and step into pure relaxation. Enjoy a pampering spa day including two 25 minute spa treatments or one 50 minute Ritual and light lunch followed by a delicious three-course meal and entertainment within any one of our fabulous Christmas Party Nights.

Dates: 5th, 18th, 19th December Times: Arrival/welcome drinks: 7.00pm. Carriages: 1.00am Price per guest: Friday night £119 Saturday night £125 sharing twin or double room

01952 422 992

telfordevents@QHotels.co.uk • www.QHotels.co.uk Telford Hotel & Golf Resort, Great Hay Drive, Sutton Heights, Telford TF7 4DT

29

Moooooving...?

Choose Barker Healey Property to sell your home and make sure your property stands out from the crowd!

WA N T E D PROPERTIES TO SELL

10 High Street, Newport TF10 7AN

1% ISSION

01952 813625

COMM

www.barkerhealey.co.uk This 4 Bedroom detached house within a quiet cul-de-sac on the sought-after Deer Park estate has been much improved, extended and updated by the current owners over the last nine years. Not only have they added a 21ft Dining/Family Room, converted one of the existing garages into a 2nd Sitting Room/Office/Playroom and replaced the Master En-suite, but they have also re-decorated and re-laid flooring throughout. The immaculate presentation is testament to their hard work and means this family home is ready to move into straight away.

11 Hartwood Close, Newport

30

ÂŁ334,995

Briefly comprising Lounge, Breakfast Kitchen, Dining/Family Room, Downstairs W.C., 2nd Sitting Room/Office/Playroom, 4 Bedrooms, 2 En-suites, Bathroom and Integrated Garage, there is ample driveway parking and landscaped gardens to the front and rear. Gas C.H. & uPVC D.G throughout.

Guide Price ÂŁ334,995

PROPERTY

WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN BUY AT LIGHTMOOR GREEN

Images include optional upgrades at additional cost

Why rent when you can buy at Lightmoor Green and be surrounded by breath-taking rural landscapes of offer. Situated in Telford and within easy walking distance of a brand new school, Lightmoor Green is ideal for families looking for their next adventure.

3 & 4 bedroom homes Priced from just £172,000 Marketing Suite open from Thursday – Monday 10am to 5pm

Owning your own home here is more affordable than you thought, with these estimated monthly payments*:

£539.89

£750

Mortgage

Rental

www.crestnicholson.com/lightmoorgreen

Lightmoor Green Wellington Lane | Telford | Shropshire | TF4 3QF

01952 455 840

*Estimated monthly mortgage payments based on a 25 year term and a typical 1.89%, 2 year fixed rates and applies to a 3 bedroom home at Lightmoor Green priced at £172,000.

Based on 75% at £129,000, 20% at £34,400 and 5% at £8,600. Show Home photography. Pricing correct at time of going to press.

31

Christmas wishes from us all and our very own office dog Frankie xx

SALES RENTAL • ARLA Agreements • Attended Move ins with pictures taken • Rent guarantee • Repairs programme in 40 different languages • Three monthly reports from our Happy Inspector • Monthly statements • No hidden charges or add ons • Client money protection • Accredited by Telford and Wrekin Council • Experience in Court Procedures • Pet Friendly Agent

Julia Weston Estate Agents The Stables 43 Market Street Wellington Telford TF1 1DT

• Experience of over 30 years • Professional Photography • Energy performance certificates and floor plans prepared • Expert sales software • Good feedback after viewings • Plenty of client contact • Advice on Solicitors • Financial advisors available

Come and relax in our friendly office or call us and chat about your requirements “Service with a smile and a cup of tea” Tel: 01952 246622 or 01952 246633 Fax: 01952 616677 Email: julia@juliaweston.co.uk

www.juliaweston.co.uk

Come along and see us on 5th & 6th December at Green Fields Food Festival We are proud to Sponsor Green Fields Food Festival where we provide fruit for children on the day Green Fields Farm Shop, Station Road, Donnington, Telford TF2 9UR

32

PROPERTY

Next Year you could be here!

With a fantastic range of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes in a choice of eleven different designs, you’ll bound to find what you’re looking for at Heritage View.

Heritage View is a new community located in ever popular Trench. Built to Lioncourt Homes 5 star award winning standards and with a superb specification, all the new homes here offer outstanding value.

House to sell? We may be able to take it in Part-Exchange.

Ask about Help to Buy, a Government backed 5 year interest free loan?

2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from just £140,000

Help to Buy

Heritage View, Sommerfeld Road, Trench, Telford, TF1 5RY Come and visit our sparkling new showhome to find out more, open 10am to 5.30pm daily.

Telephone: 07496 244146 or 0845 873 2893†

www.lioncourthomes.com †Calls will be charged at seven pence per minute from a BT landline and may cost considerably more from mobile and other phones. Contact your service provider for more details. *All offers are subject to terms and conditions, please ask our Sales Executive for full details. Photographs show a typical Lioncourt home.

33

Motoring

Jaguar has finally launched its long-awaited SUV contender, the F-Pace. By breaking a world record loop-the-loop the night before the Frankfurt Motor Show, the British manufacturer took the wraps off its most important car for decades in typical bigbudget JLR fashion.

The stunt, rumoured to have cost £1.5m, saw driver Terry Grant pull off the huge loop in front of hundreds of VIP guests. But while that may have grabbed the attention of the social media generation, and the headlines from the Germans in their own backyard, it was the car’s details that we were really interested in.

2015 has been a year of change for Jaguar. The AWD F-Type has arrived, alongside the BMW 3 Series challenging XE, a new XF and now the firm’s first ever cross-over, the F-Pace.

Porsche beater? Jaguar referenced the Porsche Macan no fewer than 10 times in its press presentation, so it’s clear who the brand is targeting. The F-Pace will cost £34,170 when it arrives, which prices it ‘at the heart of the medium SV market and makes it better value than a Macan,’ says Jaguar.

Design decisions:

Ian Callum said he ‘never dreamed we’d do a crossover SUV’ and that the only reason they did it was because customers wanted one. Callum said he was pleased with the short overhangs, the integration of the Jaguar grille and the bonnet bulge. ‘The F-Type has been the inspiration in so many ways,’ he added.

Interior advances:

The inside of the F-Pace is a whole new world for Jaguar. A 10-inch touchscreen with a new user interface looks and works brilliantly, while there’s a 100GB SSD hard drive for owners to store music and video, four USB ports and four 12V sockets.

Digital display:

A 12.3-inch digital display sits where the clocks should be. They are represented digitally but all can be

34

JAGUAR F-PACE

changed to display a full screen map for the sat nav. Twitter and Spotify are fully integrated while users can use apps to pre-heat and cool the car, locate it and even to link with an Apple Watch.

Material matters:

There is more aluminium in the car than any other in its sector –some 80 per cent - while a third of that is from recycled sources. 70 new robots have been installed at the Solihull plant to make the F-Pace, with £120m invested in the project.

All terrain:

Borrowing tech from its Land Rover siblings, the F-Pace features a clever four-wheel drive system that switches between ice, snow/very wet or sand/deep snow, seamlessly. This may be a crossover, but it’ll still be capable off road.

Kitted out: Blind spot detection, closing vehicle alert, lane assist, traffic signal recognition are all standard as is a forward facing camera that can spot pedestrians in places drivers can’t. Occupants can even connect up to eight devices to the car’s WiFi network on the go.

Watch this:

Sporty types can use a wrist-watch style, waterproof key for times they don’t want to take the original with them. Drivers lock the car by tapping the ‘Activity Key’ against the ‘J’ on the boot. It uses RFID technology and is waterproof to 20 metres.

Pulling power: A supercharged 380bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol will see the Jag hit 60mph in 5.3 seconds while the 300bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel has a whopping 700Nm.

Starter’s orders:

Customers desperate to be the first to own an F-Pace will be offered a special First Edition. Priced at a whopping £65,275 just 2,000 will be offered worldwide with only 200 coming to the UK. They can have it in any colour they like as long as that’s blue.

by James Baggott

MOTOR & LEISURE

CALL US TODAY 01952 632851 Hire Desk Open 6 Days a Week: Mon to Fri: 7am to 6pm Sat: 8.30am to 12pm

Do you have need to change your car?

Had some previous difficulties that may have effected you’re ability to obtain credit?

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01952 632851 • enquiries@telfordvehiclerentals.co.uk • www.telfordvehiclerentals.co.uk 35

DELAMERE 01952 MOTORS 583334 www.delameremotors.com Tyre size 155/65 X14T 165/70 X14T 175/65 X14T 175/70 X14T 175/65 X15T 185/55 X15V 185/60 X15H 185/65 X15H 195/50 X15V 195/55 X15V 195/55 X16H 195/60 X15H 195/65 X15H 205/50 X16W 205/50 X17W 205/55 X16V 215/50 X17W 215/55 X16W 225/40 X18W 225/45 X17W 225/50 X17W 225/55 X17W 235/45 X17W

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36

MOTOR & LEISURE

The all new smart fortwo.

Representative example for a smart fortwo passion 71 hp coupe (52 kw) coupe manual optional metallic paint* 36 Monthly Payments of £139 On the Road Price £11,420 Customer Deposit £1,687 Retailer Deposit Contribution £561.12 Total Deposit £2,248.12 Number of Payments 36 Optional Final Payment £5,500 Amount of Credit £9,171.88 Total Amount Payable £12,812.12 Purchase Activation £10.00 Fixed Interest Rate 6.17% APR Representative 6.4%

DRAYTON

The all new smart forfour.

Finance example for a smart forfour passion 71 hp hatchback (52 kw) coupe manual** 48 Monthly Payments of £149 On the Road Price £11,620 Customer Deposit £149 Retailer Deposit Contribution £1,219.04 Total Deposit £1,368.04 Number of Payments 48 Optional Final Payment £5,025 Amount of Credit £10,251.95 Total Amount Payable £13,555.04 Purchase Activation £10.00 Fixed Interest Rate 6.17% APR 6.4%

Only

£149

insurance†

DRAYTO

N

Call us on 01743 537233 to enquire about either model.

Drayton Group smart at Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury Vanguard Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3TG 01743 537233 www.draytongroup.co.uk Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the smart range: urban 55.4(5.1)-58.9(4.8), extra urban 72.4(3.9)-76.4(3.7), combined 65.7(4.3)-68.9(4.1). CO2 emissions 99-93 g/km.

The above detailed information has been supplied by Mercedes-Benz. *Quotations for the smart fortwo models are based on a 3 year PCP at 7,000 miles.**Quotations for the smart forfour models are based on a 4 year PCP at 7,000 miles. All quotations are subject to credit approval and vehicles must be credit approved and ordered between 01.10.2015 and 31.12.2015 and registered before 31.03.2016, subject to availability. †Insurance underwritten by Allianz Insurance Plc. Minimum Age 21. 12 months only. Eligibility conditions apply. Drayton Group may receive payment from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

Excess mileage charges apply. Amount of dealer deposit allowance dependent on model. Finance available from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Ltd, MK7 8ND. Model images shown for demonstration purposes only. Finance subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Drayton Group Ltd is a credit broker authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

37

Motoring

BMW X1

What is it?

This is the totally revised BMW X1. Gone are the weird looks of the last model – which managed to clock up 730,000 sales around the world – and in comes a fresh, chunky design that makes it look like a shrink-wrapped X5, but in a good way. One in 10 BMWs sold was an X1 at the height of its success and it was continually in the top three most popular cars sold by the manufacturer, so this new model has a lot to live up to. Aimed at “young, sporty” buyers, the maker believes this is a lifestyle vehicle that can be used every day. It’s taller and wider than the model it replaces, has a higher seating position, but has shrunk 1.5cm.

What’s under the bonnet?

There is one petrol engine and three diesel options. The former xDrive20i has 190bhp, 280Nm of torque and can hit 62mph in 7.4 seconds. Emissions are 146g/km and it’ll return 44.8mpg.

Diesels come in 18d, 20d and 25d variants. The sDrive18d is front wheel drive only, the latter two four-wheel drive like the petrol. We’d pick the £30,630-priced xDrive20d, though. Why? Well it comes with four-wheel drive, is £6k cheaper than the top-of-the-range model and still performs well. With 188bhp and 400Nm of torque it will hit 62mph in 7.6 seconds, return 57.6mpg and emits 128g/km.

What’s the spec like?

Standard equipment is plentiful. Navigation, DAB radio, 40:20:40 split rear seat (with handy buttons to fold them flat from the boot), alloys and an automatic opening and closing boot that you can operate with a wave of your foot, are all included. As you move up the range, larger alloys, different trims and LED headlights are added, while the M Sport adds a smart styling pack too. On the options list is a heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon speakers and a head-up display, plus lots more.

What’s it like to drive?

Frankly, quite brilliant. For what is essentially a small SUV it belies its size on the road. Bumps are soaked up beautifully and the ride is plush. The high seating position is excellent and commanding, the steering feels a little uncommunicative

38

THE KNOWLEDGE MODEL: BMW X1 xDrive20d

MAX SPEED: 136mph

PRICE: £30,630

0-62MPH: 7.4

ENGINE: 2.0-litre diesel

MPG: 57.6

POWER: 188bhp, 400Nm

EMISSIONS: 128g/km

at times but isn’t off-putting while the diesel engine and automatic gearbox work seamlessly. It’s a very competent package and feels decidedly premium. BMW has worked hard on the chassis for this new X1 and it shows.

Any rivals?

Plenty. In fact, this market is positively crowded. Direct rivals come in the shape of the Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLA, both competent but we’d argue not quite as good looking as the Beemer. But then cast your net further afield and you could include the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and recently launched Renault Kadjar in the same bracket. Those latter options lack the cache of the BMW’s premium badge, but offer considerably better value for money. See what we mean about choice?

The verdict We loved the BMW X1. The last one passed us by somewhat – we felt the looks were strange and out of proportion, and it seemed to lack the style we’d come to expect from BMW. This new model is much better, though. The chunky looks make it really stand out on the road – even if it does look like a miniature X5 (but that’s no bad thing) – and the interior is a lovely place to spend time. As you’d expect it feels premium, rides beautifully and has an impressive amount of standard kit.

We’d go as far to say that if you’re looking for a premium SUV with diminutive dimensions, this should be at the top of your shopping list.

by James Baggott

MOTOR & LEISURE

Top Tyre

CARE TIPS

Iain Betson goes tyre kicking Having just forked out £450 for three tyres on the car - no it’s not a Reliant Robin; fate being what it is I fully expect the fourth one to go pop in the near future right now I am in a zone of “tyre care awareness”.

Sad I know, but if it saves me having to replace tyres on a regular basis then so be it.

So here are some nuggets of tyre wisdom I’ve learnt and pass to you: 1. Use the correct pressures, and change them depending upon your load (increase for heavy use, reduce for everyday journeys). Doing this will improve stability, save fuel and prolong the tyre’s life.

2. Tread wear: check the tread wear indicators – raised areas at the base of the grooves of the tread. If the tread is level with the indicator you have only 1.6mm of tread left.

Under that and it’s a fine and three points per illegal tyre.

3. Putting nitrogen instead of air in the tyre increases its life and saves fuel as it lessens the rolling resistance by dispersing heat more effectively.

4. Avoid those kerbs: hitting them will damage the tyre side wall, with a cut or bulge raising the risk of a blowout.

5. Potholes: do your best to avoid them safely. Hitting these will damage the tyre and, quite possibly, the wheel too, especially if you have “run-flat” tyres as they have very little give in the sidewall, meaning the wheel takes more punishment. A replacement wheel is a lot more expensive than a tyre.

6. If your car has traction control, changing just one tyre can make the system behave oddly as it receives conflicting information from the different tread depths, and thus grip, on the tyres. In some cases it will even inhibit the car’s performance as it attempts to keep the car safe from what it perceives is a dangerous condition.

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Kyoto

Laced with rivers and lakes at the foot of the mountains, Kyoto nestles in a lush valley on Japan’s main island. It’s a bustling city of tree-lined avenues and gleaming shops but in this former capital, the past lingers in myriad heritage sites, 17 of them listed

by UNESCO, sprinkled on the slopes or tucked away at the heart of town. For over 1,000 years, this was the emperor’s home, even when military rule was set up in Edo (now Tokyo), and a renowned cultural centre where temples, palaces and gardens flourished and geishas entertained the elite with elegance and grace.

Imperial power was restored in Tokyo in 1868 but the Emperor still visits his Kyoto Palace, a complex of sweeping roofs and covered walkways behind a long perimeter wall on the edge of a public park. Around the corner, the Nijo Castle greets visitors with a delightful garden, a dark mysterious hall draped in ancient murals and a ‘nightingale’ corridor where floorboards still creak to ward off intruders.

Meanwhile across the Kamo river, traditional wooden houses glow along the lanes in the Gion district, a perfect picture postcard, especially if you spot a geisha or two, but a world away from the glorious temples and shrines which are Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks. When locals visit on special occasions, young women wear flowers in their hair and kimonos flutter along the paths.

Most Japanese follow both Buddhism and Shinto, the indigenous religion worshipping the thousands of spirits who live in the natural world. Buddhist prayers are for the after-life

40

JAPAN

but Shinto is for the present since spirits are all around. Shinto shrines are traditionally fronted by a red ‘torri’ gate, marking the transition from profane to sacred, and accessed by a gravel path whose sound is believed to calm the mind in readiness for worship. Most famous is the Fushimi Inari shrine where hundreds of vermilion gates cover the tunnel-like paths. The shrine honours the God of Rice and his messenger, the Fox, while nearer to the town centre, the Heia-jingu is a replica of the original imperial palace, built in 794, including pagodas, halls and a ‘strolling garden’ cooled by water features.

Alongside its 400 Shinto shrines, Kyoto claims 1,600 Buddhist temples. Here’s the Temple of Clear Water, one of the oldest in Japan, and the spring where wishes might come true, there Ryoan-ji, known for its rock garden and lovely lake festooned in azalea, and the most popular, Kinkaku-ji and its Golden Pavilion, originally built in the 15th century and dedicated to Zen Buddhism. It’s a crowded place but patient visitors are sure to find some quiet moments when the Golden Pavilion simply takes their breath away. Mirrored in the lake, it’s almost unreal, a classical painting sparkling with gold leaf in a luxuriant oasis.

Some say it’s a vision of the after-life, the ‘Pure Land of the Buddha’, others see it as the perfect harmony between heaven and earth.

Whatever it is, one can barely imagine that after Hiroshima in 1945, Kyoto was next on the list for nuclear destruction but spared at the 11th hour by Henry L. Stimson, the US Secretary of War who had visited the city on his honeymoon.

So Nagasaki was hit and Kyoto remains one of the most stunning heritage sites in Japan.

by Solange Hando

MOTOR & LEISURE

Local Used Car Specialist

C. D. CAR SALES

C.D. Cars is an independent used car specialist, based in Telford, Shropshire.

Owner, Christian Daffurn has been in the motor trade since 1989 and has worked for large main dealer groups such as Renault Retail Group, and Nissan UK and his last position was with a large Honda dealership. During these roles Christian worked as an Aftersales Manger, a huge part of his role was to prepare used cars to the high standards that the customer expects.

CD Car Sales

www.cdcarsales.co.uk

T: 07975 521917 / 01952 504728

QUALITY USED CARS

• 12 months MOT* • 6 months TAX* • 6 months Warranty* (warranty provided by VGS)

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Christian said, “Having worked for 24 years within the trade both on new and used cars, I feel I can now adapt my skills and knowledge into providing a dealership standard used car and also offer my customers an excellent saving compared with main dealerships, we can also arrange finance if required.”

Viewings are all by appointment only and can be made 7 days a week. All cars can be viewed at ACH Autos, Ralphs Garage, Lawley Village, Telford, TF4 2PD. Vehicles can also be viewed from within our indoor showroom if required.

C.D. Car Sales pride themselves on their knowledge of used cars and sourcing the right used car for you.

To view the current stock of cars visit the website at: www.cdcarsales.co.uk

Cars can be viewed on the website, please call to arrange an appointment for viewings

Cars on display at: ACH Autos, Ralphs Garage, Lawley Village, Telford TF4 2PD

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41

NEWPORT CHIROPRACTIC

Telford Foot Care Celia Crow BSc Hons DipCFHP

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Detectives Can you match up the first names on the right to the surnames on the left to give the names of 10 famous fictional detectives?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

42

Kojak Taggart Starsky Hutch Lynley Wallander Morse Rebus Ironside Columbo

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Make Christmas

HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER

Christmas is often laden with expectations, anxieties and overindulgence. Add family tensions to the mix and the result can be discomfort, disappointment and disagreement. It’s no coincidence that January is the busiest month for divorce lawyers.

So what can we do to make Christmas happier and healthier?

Take the Pressure Off

• Buy presents throughout the year. Gift shops you visit on holiday may offer something unique.

• Try to resolve family conflicts before the big day.

• You can’t please all of the people all of the time, so don’t try.

Ask the people involved (including yourself) to name just one or two things that really make their Christmas, then agree on a plan that includes these, along with exercise (a post-dinner walk?), a group activity or two, and allotted tasks to ensure one person doesn’t wait on everyone else.

• Bake and freeze as much as possible in advance (gravy and stuffing can be frozen).

• Don’t add sausage meat to stuffing; bulk it up with vegetarian sausage mix instead.

• Forget the goose fat and spray potatoes with a healthy oil, or swap roasties for jacket potatoes.

• Microwave, steam or boil your vegetables in a small amount of water until just soft; overcooking destroys nutrients (and taste). Add herbs or lemon juice rather than butter.

Avoid Festive Food Poisoning

• Keep the salt shaker off the table.

• Keep ALL raw food separate from ready-to-eat foods and use separate chopping boards.

• Christmas pudding is usually quite low in fat and high in fibre, but high in sugar. Keep portion sizes small and add low-fat custard or crème fraîche, or Greek yogurt, rather than cream or brandy butter.

Hygiene can slip with extra food, extra cooks and extra time pressure, so:

• Rub fruit and vegetables clean – don’t just rinse them.

• Defrost foods thoroughly. A large turkey can take two days, so check inside for ice crystals. Cook or refrigerate defrosted food immediately.

• Ensure your fridge stays below 5°C and there’s room for cold air to circulate inside.

• Keep pre-prepared or chilled food in the fridge until the last possible moment.

• Make sure your turkey is properly cooked. Meat at the thickest part between the breast and thigh shouldn’t be pink, and juices should run clear.

• Adhere to ‘use by’ dates and check food carefully if it’s beyond the ‘best before’ date.

• Cover buffet food and don’t leave it out for more than four hours.

• Chill leftovers rapidly and eat them within two days. Reheat them thoroughly, but not more than once.

Healthier Christmas Food

Stick to normal meal times and start Christmas Day with a healthy, filling breakfast to help everyone resist unhealthy snacks.

Christmas dinner

• Opt for low salt gravy mixes and if you’re adding meat juices, let them sit until the fat has separated, then scoop it off before adding the juices to your gravy.

Christmas Party or Tea • Swap traditional, pastry-heavy mince pies for lattices, filo parcels or open-top versions.

• Use herbs, light dressings and marinades to make tasty savouries rather than opting for breaded or battered snacks.

• Make healthier creamy dips with yogurt or crème fraîche or choose tomato-based ones.

• Try swapping crisps, salted nuts and chocolate for plain popcorn, rice cakes, pretzels, unsalted nuts and homemade chocolate covered fruit (using dark chocolate will make it even healthier).

Be Drink Wise • Alcohol is calorie-heavy.

• Absorption is dependent on your size, age, weight, metabolism, what else you’ve eaten or drunk, and the speed you’ve been drinking, so no set amount will guarantee you stay under the legal drink-drive limit. Remember that Scotland’s drink-drive limit is considerably lower than the rest of the UK’s. Even if you’re not over the limit, alcohol affects your judgement, reactions and vision.

This can be a healthy balanced meal if prepared correctly.

• Don’t exceed the NHS recommended weekly limits: 21 units for men and 14 units for women.

• Avoid fat-laden starters.

• If you’re hosting, provide a range of soft drinks for nondrinkers.

• Keep portion size sensible and stop eating just as you start to feel full. It takes time for your stomach to tell your brain you’re full.

• The fat on poultry is predominantly in the skin, so prick it and then cook it on a rack, holding it clear of the escaping fat.

Removing skin and avoiding butter-basting reduces a turkey’s calories by nearly a third and its fat by more than half. It’s lower in fat that duck and goose.

44

• Alcohol, salty snacks and warm rooms all contribute to dehydration which will make people irritable, so offer jugs of chilled water jazzed up with winter berries or citrus peel.

Finally, take time out to relax - and remember: a burnt turkey isn’t the end of the world.

by Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

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45

Soft Tissue Injuries So the seasonal bad weather is upon us and so in this month’s article I thought I would talk about immediate post injury/first aid care for soft tissue injuries and with the frosty and snowy weather on its way it can often be a hazardous time.

Compression:

We do see an increase in injuries such as soft tissue injuries for example ligament sprains from patients slipping and falling in the cold and icy conditions. Obviously the best form of treatment is prevention so just simple things like making sure you have the appropriate shoes on and make sure paths in and around your property are gritted.

Elevation:

If a fall or injury does occur, here are some tips to help ease the pain. Most of you will have heard of RICE this is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation and is essential for management of soft tissue injuries.

REST:

Rest is essential to help take the strain off tissues which are trying to heal. Rest will prevent further swelling, pain and further injury. It should be used for a period of time which enables the limb or body part to begin to function better.

ICE: Ice can be a valuable treatment in easing pain and reducing

inflammation and swelling. Controlling the swelling can reduce the risk of increased scar tissue build up and further joint irritation.

It is recommended that we ice for around 15-20 minutes at a time for up to 48 hours post injury. It is important to make sure you have good sensation as if you haven’t you are at risk of ice burns.

A good tip is to place a thin damp tea towel between the skin and ice and this will act as a barrier to the skin preventing ice burns.

IN THE WINTER

This again is useful in controlling swelling and managing pain. There are various supports and braces available but a simple tubigrip stocking from your local chemist will suffice. Usually used for extended periods but never through the night.

This is where the body part is placed in an elevated position to aid venous blood flow to aid in the reduction of swelling and in turn reducing pain.

Remember if you do injure yourself and the pain and dysfunction is severe, it is advisable to seek medical attention.

All our physiotherapists are state registered and qualified to assess and treat soft tissue injuries.

If you are concerned about your mobility or the mobility issues of a friend or loved one, we do have a physiotherapist who specialises in this area. She can provide specific exercises, balance re-education and falls prevention advice, which can help rehabilitate and maximise potential. This type of therapy can be carried out at the clinic or in comfort of your own home through our home visiting service.

If you do require advice or would like to book an appointment please call our reception on 01952462330.

EARLY MORNING AND EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE WE ALSO OFFER ACUPUNCTURE, HOME VISITS NEURO AND MOBILITY ASSESSMENTS

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HEALTH & FITNESS

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47

Nicotine

WITHOUT THE NASTIES airflow and the liquid is heated via a small heating element in the cartridge. The vapour created is then inhaled by the user.

E-cigarettes are not currently licensed for prescription, but after May 2016, under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TDP) any e-cigs containing over 20mg/ml of nicotine will require authorisation by the Medicine and Healthcare Products Agency (MHRA) in the same way as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products

These provide nicotine in a variety of different ways and strengths, in order to reduce cravings and alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Smoking is responsible for one in every five deaths in adults over 35 in England, and kills half of all long-term smokers prematurely. In light of these statistics and the research confirming the dangers of second-hand and third-hand smoke, it’s not surprising that many smokers are now seeking alternatives to tobacco.

Nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco, and withdrawal makes addicts feel restless, anxious and depressed – hence the illusion that a cigarette ‘calms their nerves’. However, nicotine isn’t responsible for the majority of damage that cigarettes cause. Smokers want alternatives that deliver nicotine in a less harmful way and that don’t contain the arsenic, cyanide, tar and other toxic nasties found in cigarettes.

Luckily, there are now more cigarette alternatives available than ever.

E-Cigarettes (and Mods, Vape Sticks, Personal Vaporisers)

E-cigarettes have proved to be somewhat controversial, mainly due to the rapid growth of the industry and its lack of regulation.

Some establishments ban them because of the uncertainty surrounding what chemicals they contain and may release into the air. Safety concerns include: • Safety of the supposedly ‘safe’ added ingredients, such as flavourings – experts point out that although some of these ingredients are certified safe to eat, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe to inhale into the lungs • The inclusion of dangerous chemicals such as aldehydes, and unspecified ingredients • Inconsistent, unspecified or unregulated quantities of nicotine • Throat irritation due to allergy to ingredients, such as nut flavourings or propylene glycol The NHS QuitForLife campaign advises: “E-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than tobacco cigarettes but are not harmless. Their long term health impact is unknown.”

While some e-cigarettes are made to look similar to a normal cigarette, others don’t look cigarette-like in the slightest.

However, they all contain a battery, an atomiser and either a cartridge or refillable ‘tank’ containing the nicotine liquid. This ‘e-liquid’ or’ e-juice’ is suspended in propylene glycol or glycerine and water. When a user sucks on the device, a sensor detects

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Patches Patches are a very popular choice. They release a steady dose of nicotine into the bloodstream and are very discreet. Patches come in a variety of doses and release times, so that you can gradually reduce your nicotine dosage.

Chewing Gum Nicotine gum gives a burst of nicotine rather than a constant dose, just as a cigarette does, and can be used whenever you get the urge to have a cigarette. A variety of brands and flavours including mint, fruit and liquorice are available, and there are two strengths: 2mg and 4mg.

The gum should be chewed slowly until a tingling or nicotine taste is detected on the tongue and then left in the mouth until the tingling has subsided, when it can be chewed again. This is repeated for around 30 minutes. You shouldn’t exceed the maximum quantity stated on the product, and you should space out your gum chewing or you may experience side effects such as heartburn or nausea.

Lozenges and Soluble Sublingual Tablets Nicotine lozenges and sublingual tablets dissolve slowly in the mouth, releasing their nicotine dose. The lozenges come in 1mg, 2mg and 4mg strengths and sublingual tablets come in a 2mg strength.

Mouth Sprays 1mg mouth sprays are used to supply a burst of nicotine to reduce cravings.

Inhalators 15mg inhalators release nicotine from a cartridge when you breathe in, and can be useful if you initially find the habit of holding and inhaling from a cigarette hard to break. One cartridge lasts for around 40 minutes of intense use.

Nasal Sprays The 10mg nasal sprays may be best suited to heavy smokers, as they rapidly deliver a strong dose of nicotine. Research suggests nasal sprays may be the most effective type of NRT, but they’re not the most discreet option.

If these products don’t contain toxins, then I can use them indefinitely, can’t I? They’re harmless.

No. While all these alternatives provide a safer way to get your nicotine dose than smoking tobacco, they are intended to help you reduce and ultimately quit smoking. Nicotine is an addictive drug with a range of mental and physical side-effects.

The NHS QuitforLife campaign warns: “Nicotine is classed as a poison in its pure form and, if ingested in high enough doses, can kill. It is toxic in contact with the skin in high concentration.

It should be supplied in a clearly labelled, child resistant package and stored out of the reach of children and pets.”

by Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

HEALTH & FITNESS

Unhurried Professional Service Free Retinal Photography Large Frame Showroom State of the Art Consulting Rooms Discounted Designer Eyewear 1/2 Price 2nd Pairs Free Contact Lens Trials

With Free Car Park 5a Park Street, Shifnal TF11 9BA 01952 461387

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Perfect Christmas Presents Fed up with Christmas shopping?

Get inspired by our gift guide and treat that special someone to a present they’ll love - no matter what your budget.

Here are our favourite seasonal high street finds for him and her…

Guitar Hero Live Xbox One Game £89.99. Argos.

Star Wars Mug £8. BHS

Skullcandy 'Grind' Blue Headphones £39.99.

Argos.

Aquaspeed Pacific Black Chronograph Watch £299.

Rotary

Marvel Socks £12. BHS

Jagermeister 4cl Bottle, Stag Pourer, 2 x Shot Glasses £18. BHS

TOM FORD Noir Extreme Eau de Parfum 50ml £70.

House of Fraser.

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Premium Brown Leather Wallet £20. Burton

Sprout Bottle Stoppers £8.

Paperchase

Navy Reindeer Christmas Jumper £19.99. Blue Inc

Image courtesy of House of Fraser Mirrored Jewellery Box £34.99.

Argos.

'Edelweiss' Diary £6. Accessorize

Watch £85.

Karen Millen

Roses de Chloe Eau De Toilette from £58.

House of Fraser

Lee Stafford Arganoil Dryer £49.99. Argos

'Hepburn' Bag £149.

Radley

Mirrored Jewellery Box £34.99.

Argos.

iPhone Case £8.

Paperchase

51

Home & Interiors

NEW YEAR, NEW STYLE?

imagination. On a subtler note, a change of paint colour, or even a wood stain, combined with new knobs or pulls will give wooden furniture a new lease of life, while for really on-trend attitude you could have a table top covered in marble, slate or zinc. The latter is the metal du jour, and keen DIYers can order a sheet of zinc online, then get how-to instructions from YouTube.

Keep going around the house.

Another way to add interest to dull walls would be with an eye-catching, stick-on-peel-off design, a metal-framed mirror or an oversized print. Boring floor? Time for a new rug – or there is always the option of either sanding back or painting old wooden boards. Looking for something simpler? Adding a sheepskin to an old sofa or chair will give instant uplift, as will a change of bed linen, towels or small accessories such as cushions, storage baskets or vases. And how about lights?

A sassy lampshade can alter the look of an entire room, while popping in some filament bulbs will give your lighting a vibe that’s absolutely hot right now. How about a cool coat hook or new door knobs? Some kitchen canisters or a bathroom soap dispenser? The smallest things can make a surprisingly big difference. The high-street chains are brilliant at tapping into new trends and getting affordable products out there fast – so get browsing in your nearest department store.

Out with the old, in with the new, and if your New Year’s resolution is to refresh your home with a fashionable look, interiors expert Katherine Sorrell has some handy tips to help.

Where do I start?

Think about what parts of your home feel most tired and unloved. Perhaps walls could do with a wash of fresh paint, for example. Dulux’s colour of the year is Cherished Gold, a goldinfluenced ochre that can be used on its own as a statement or as a highlight in combination with other hues. The overall colour palette for this year is muted, warm and soft yet also sophisticated. ‘Think coral, not orange; ochre not yellow and midnight, not blue. This is a friendly palette but with a dark, mysterious side,’ says Rebecca Williamson, Dulux’s senior colour design and content manager.

Another of Dulux’s over-riding themes for 2016 is ‘Heritage & Future’, in other words, the idea that one has to take inspiration from the past in order to design for the future. So, vintage and antique references support those of the modern-day in a palette that includes chocolate, sand, a deep, pinkish red, muted orange and spicy browns. Ideal for an overhaul in any style of property.

More easy updates You may not be in the market for buying new furniture, but there are still ways to update your old pieces for a fabulous new look. Ikea has identified a key trend this year for personalisation – just look at what can be done with an inexpensive chest of drawers, spray paint and some

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What other trends should I be keeping an eye on?

While a striking monochrome palette of black, white and grey is going to be big in 2016, opulent metallic accents are also catching on fast, and work well with both modern and traditional decors. The look can be either industrial (more on this next month) or retro-glam – as per Bemz’s ‘Deco Glam’ look, described as ‘cosy glamour with a Seventies twist’. ‘Many people who think back to the Seventies think of corduroy, brown, orange and wood panelling. Instead, we want to create a more glamorous Seventies style in our homes: think Charlie’s Angels, Studio 54, and Bianca Jagger,’ says Lesley Pennington, CEO and founder of Bemz. She recommends mixing plain fabrics in rose, steel, mineral blue and straw with geometric accents, plus dark wood, shiny brass, fluffy cushions, small tables and statement floor lamps. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Scandi look that is all natural, textural, tonal and pared-back, including sheepskin, leather, wood and felt.

If you prefer something with more colour, go for a folk-inspired style with brighter tones of red, orange and teal, combined with intricate florals, handicraft and woodlandinspired images. Last but not least, Graham & Brown have predicted four trends based around the catwalks at London Fashion Week: meadow prints, statement reds, intricate lace detailing and – you heard it here first – a throwback to the Eighties. You have been warned…

Images - Top left: Ikea predicts a trend for personalisation, whether it’s using stains, stencils or freehand painting.

Left: One of Dulux’s key trends for 2016 is ‘Heritage & Future’, including reds that reflect our rich heritage, but also have a bright contemporary feel that points to the future.

by Katherine Sorrell

HOME INTERIORS

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All quoted prices include measuring, fitting and vat *Terms & Conditions Apply. Offers are for a limited period only.

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Tips to Survive

THOSE LONG DISTANCE FAMILY GATHERINGS few days, with the result that disappointment and deflation kicked in soon after our arrival.

Families the world over face the same problem when they get together after a long absence, but it’s particularly difficult at Christmas, when people’s expectations are already sky-high. Here are a few useful tips to help you negotiate the minefield of family relationships over the festive season:

• Give your guests time to unwind

When my children were young I used to dread visiting my in-laws, who lived a four-hour journey away from our London home.

Already stressed out by the exhaustive preparations for our trip, our car jam-packed with prams, cots, toys and a week’s supply of clothes, my husband and I would arrive to find both his parents in hyper mode, bursting with excitement and plans for the week ahead.

While we collapsed in the lounge, drained from the long journey and trying to restrain our crotchety toddlers from grabbing Grandma’s best china ornaments, my in-laws would demand our reaction to their carefully drawn up itinerary of family outings. The trick was not to question anything, just smile and agree – any hint of dissention risked wrecking their mood.

The first couple of days were therefore full of frantic activity as they tried to make up for six months of not having seen their grandchildren in the space of a single week. While my husband and I were pleased to see his parents in such a happy mood, we also viewed these outings and treats with something like trepidation because we knew what was to come.

On the third or fourth day my mother-in-law’s mood would invariably swing from feverish enjoyment to acute depression, as she began to anticipate our departure. She would even become less attentive to the children, leaving them puzzled by Grandma’s sudden inability to laugh and play as normal.

From that moment on it was like treading on eggshells: the slightest hint of a problem and she would tearfully fly to her room. By the time we climbed into the car to start the long journey back, we felt anything but refreshed by our break. In fact, seven days with the in-laws made the prospect of going home seem almost like a holiday.

Of course, it wasn’t my mother-in-law’s fault. The problem lay in the fact that we could only manage two or three visits each year. This led to a build-up of wishes and expectations that could never realistically be fulfilled in the space of just a

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You’ve worked hard to make everything really special for your guests and as far as you’re concerned, all they have to do is arrive, and enjoy.

But spare a thought for the fevered preparations your visitors have made in getting to you - meeting last-minute work deadlines, buying and wrapping presents, washing and packing clothes and toys, not to mention a long journey with over-excited children. In all likelihood they will be exhausted by the time they arrive, so give them a chance to chill out and relax before getting the party started.

• Ask before you buy Children’s tastes change as rapidly as they outgrow their clothes. Take the time to check out what your grandchildren will really enjoy in terms of the food you provide, the day trips you plan and especially the Christmas presents you buy. Don’t purchase toys on impulse then feel disappointed because your present is left, half-unwrapped, beneath the tree on Christmas morning.

• Treat the grandkids with kid gloves Small children are creatures of habit and if they haven’t seen you for a while they may need time to adjust. Try not to overwhelm them with noisy demonstrations of affection and don’t expect them to come to you straight away. With a little patience they will soon be climbing all over you, begging for stories, games and treats.

• The internet knows best Everyone has a different way of bringing up their children: don’t be tempted to use the brief time you have together to impose your views on child-rearing. Those brought up with the maxim “mother knows best” may be disappointed to learn that every bit of information and advice on child development traditionally supplied by parents and grandparents can now be found online, so hold back on the old wives’ tales and nuggets of wisdom you learned at your mother’s knee.

No family is perfect, and coming together at Christmas, when everyone feels under pressure to have a good time, can be challenging - especially if you are trying to meet the needs and wishes of three generations under one roof.

If you’ve previously experienced difficulties with family gatherings, make 2015 the year you put those experiences behind you. Remember, the greatest gift you can offer your loved ones over the festive season is the gift of empathy and understanding.

by Kate McLelland

HOME INTERIORS

Family Run Business Dave’s Carpets is a family-run business based in Trench, Telford and is run by husband and wife team Dave and Sue. This month they are proud to be celebrating their 20th year in business.

“We aim to give customers a more personal service, as well as offering good value for money,” explains Sue.

CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

On offer are roll ends, kitchen mats and a carpet binding service.

Customers can have most sizes of carpet bound and made into a rug, making it ideal for pieces left over from a room we’ve fitted.

So whether you want to fit it yourself or have it professionally fitted call in soon and take a look.

Visit the showroom at Dave’s Carpets Wombridge Road , Telford, Shropshire TF2 6PY for more information, or phone Sue on 01952 620060.

Dave’s Carpets have carpet, vinyl, laminate, and L.V.T ranges from Abingdon, Cormar, Furlong, Kingsmead, Associated Weavers, Bondworth, Mr. Tomkinson, ForboNairns, Polyflor, Life style floors, Quick - step, Balterio and many more.

They have a large selection of rolls of carpet at discounted prices including bleach cleanable carpets in stock from only £6.99, plus many more carpet ranges available at competitive prices giving customers lots to choose from.

Customers are encouraged to borrow flooring samples to try at home, so that they know they are making the right decision on colour, style and design. They also offer a home choose service where they can bring samples out to you if your not able to come into the shop.

DAVES CARPETS Get more for less from us

213-217 Wombridge Road, Trench TF2 6PY Next to Trench Co-op Visit www.davescarpets.co.uk Telephone 01952 620060 f oo

Est 19 yrs

servi

guarant ce eed

Pr

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Growing Who doesn’t enjoy sinking their teeth into a delicious, flavour-packed, superbly juicy apple or pear? Mmm! But if you want the ultimate in gorgeous apples, pears, plums or more, then the fruit needs to be freshly picked and sun-warmed - so grow your own and you can also save yourself a few bob, have fun and make some good looking additions to your garden, even when space is limited. There’s no need to have a massive plot or an orchard to grow fruit trees…

You can grow fruit trees in surprisingly small spaces, especially if you don’t grow them in a classic tree shape, but train them.

Training them into espaliers (so that they have several sets of horizontal ‘arms’), cordons (as single main stems grown at an angle) or fans (with branches trained into a fan shape) means that you can grow many varieties of apples and pears up against a suitable vertical surface such as a wall, fence or set of sturdy wires.

You could also train fruits like apples as ‘step-overs’ - this just means trained so they make a neat edging for a bed or border, about 45cm or so above ground level. A step-over apple basically goes up to a height of about 30cm and is then trained so that it forms two horizontal ‘arms’. They look great when in flower and will even bear a smallish crop of fruit along the arms. Try step-overs around the edge of your vegetable plot or flower bed.

Alternatively, why not make a real feature of fruit and use a tree to create a decorative and, later on, a productive arch? Buy an inexpensive bare-root cordon (straight stem) or a ‘whip’ fruit

FRUIT TREES tree of your favourite variety, pair it with another variety that is a suitable pollinator (check with the nursery) and plant one on each side of the arch, training them in as they grow. It will look great, phenomenally pretty when covered in blossom in spring, and after a few years will bear tasty fruit too.

But what if you don’t have any open ground, beds or borders in your backyard style garden? Provided you get the right rootstock (see below) it is quite possible to grow fruit trees in large containers. The container needs to be as big as possible - a half-barrel at least - and must have drainage holes kept clear using a few inches of broken china or ‘crocks’ at its bottom. Good quality loam-based compost such as John Innes No.3 will work well, but help to keep it well aerated and freedraining by adding 25-50% multi-purpose loam-free compost.

Whatever the size of your garden, but especially if space is short, when you are choosing fruit trees it is essential to get them on the right ‘rootstock’, as this determines the ultimate size and vigour of the tree. The rootstock is the type of roots onto which the chosen variety of apple has been grafted.

Apples are particularly complicated and a good nursery will advise you, but as a rule, for step-overs, cordons, dwarf bushes and trees in containers try the extremely dwarfing but somewhat tricky M27 - but do beware weak varieties or any tree grown on this rootstock in poor soil or not well pampered may well fail. For bush, cordon, espaliers and half-standard try the easier to look after dwarfing rootstock M26, while for a cordon, an espalier on poor soil, arches and bush trees try the semi-dwarfing MM106.

You can either buy one year old ‘maidens’ or ‘whips’ which are small, fairly straight stems and train them yourself, or if you want to save time you can often buy trained or part-trained fruit trees. Obviously you’ll pay more for a trained tree, but it can save you several years work!

Make sure you choose the varieties you grow so that they are in flower at the same time and thus can pollinate each other - if there is no suitable pollinator in the vicinity you will not get fruit. Check with your supplier who will be able to tell you which ‘pollination group’ each variety is in.

At this time of year you can buy fruit trees which are really good value because they are sold ‘bare root’, this just means lifted from a field and not container grown. These are not only inexpensive, but also establish particularly well. Bare root fruit trees are generally available from about November until early March, depending on the weather - so don’t delay, get ordering or planting today!

Perfect as a Christmas gift (or as a treat for you!) make vegetable growing fun with Pippa’s unique ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ system. Select the vegetables you’d like to grow at www.pippagreenwood.com and your garden-ready plants will be delivered in May, accompanied by weekly emails packed full of at-your-elbow advice and tips, ensuring great results. There’s a stylish gift card available too for this perfect present! It is great value and various pack sizes are available (e.g. up to 55 plants for just £29), plus that weekly advice.

by Pippa Greenwood

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GARDENS & OUTDOORS

CLOSED DURING JANUARY Re-opening 1st February 2016

OPEN

Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 10-4 Closing 3pm 23rd December

www.holtstreecare.com 10m

Hard wood LOGS supplied Nets, half or full loads

FREE DELIVERY

3 Woolpack Close Shifnal Shropshire TF11 8HP

T: 01952 463419 or M: 07800 986690 57

Routine pumping of your septic tank protects your septic “drainfield and will greatly extend the life of your septic system. ” 10%

DISCOUNT if booked by 31st Dec 2015

• • • •

Septic Tank Emptying / Installation Interceptor Emptying / Cleaning 24-Hour Call-out / Competitive Rates Friendly Advice / LOCAL Service

Tel: 01952 501155 • E: info@spholding.co.uk • W: www.spholding.co.uk

s e t a D l a t s o P Christmas LAST RECOMMENDED SERVICE POSTING DATES DARD (formerly Airmail) INTERNATIONAL STAN Fri 4th Dec

Last Post

Mon 7th Dec Tue 8th Dec Thu 10th Dec Mon 14th Dec Tue 15 Dec Wed 16th Dec Thu 17th Dec Fri 18th Dec

58

LAST

ENDED SERVICE

RECOMM Africa, Middle East POSTING DATES Eastern st, Ea r Fa , us pr Cy ia, As Republic, Europe (except Czech UK Poland & Slovakia) 2nd Class & Royal South Caribbean, Central & Sat 19th Dec Mail Signed For® America w Zealand Australia, Greece, Ne 1st Class & Royal any, Italy, c De st Czech Republic, Germ 21 on M Mail Signed For® Poland eden, USA Canada, Finland, Sw Royal Mail d, Delivery Austria, Iceland, Irelan rd Dec Special te 23 ed W ain Sp l, Portuga Guaran ed® France Belgium, Denmarthk,erlands, Luxembourg, Ne , Switzerland Norway, Slovakia

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

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Driveway & Landscaping • Block Paving • Tarmac • Slab Laying • Brickwalls • Decking and Fencing • Garden Make Overs • Jet Washing & Sealing

Approved Supplier

FREE QUOTES - No payment until 7 days after completion

Contact Roy T: 01952 407838 M: 07976 458123 E: centralpaving@hotmail.co.uk

www.centralpavingtelford.co.uk

“The Rocklands” Church Road, Trench TF2 7HG

SHROPSHIRE’S LEADING INDEPENDENT TIMBER MERCHANT

• Railway sleepers treated and untreated

• Quality decking Stocks of sawn timber & plywood

• Oak untreated sleepers now available New Oak Beams

• Trellis Posts Roofing materials & crash barriers

• Fencing materials and accessories Wooden Gates

• Eco Wood Pellets Available

G.S & P.A Reeves Ltd

New House Farm, The Lowe, Wem, Shropshire. SY4 5UN 59

Celebrating a Life

HOW THE UK HAS EMBRACED INDEPENDENT FUNERALS

Nowadays if you happen to see a group of people emerging from a church or crematorium after a funeral service, the chances are that instead of hearing faint strains of Verdi’s Requiem emanating from inside, you’ll hear a chorus of Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (recently voted the most popular song played at UK funerals) booming out through the open doors.

You probably won’t find mourners dressed in black, either. If they’re not all wearing outfits in the deceased’s favourite shade of blue, purple or yellow, they may be dressed in clothes that seem more suitable for a party than a funeral.

But this doesn’t mean we’ve become less respectful towards the dead: far from it. It simply follows the current trend in funerals, where the end of life is now seen as an occasion for reflection and celebration. In recent years the special qualities of the person who has passed away – their interests, successes, challenges and good deeds – have become the main focus of the funeral service. Nowadays speakers at funerals are even likely to throw in the odd joke as they talk about the person who has died: something that would have been unimaginable fifty years ago. It’s a fitting tribute to a life well lived, and provides an alternative approach to a traditional religious ceremony.

Another change you might notice is that a casket made of cardboard, bamboo or willow has replaced the standard wooden coffin, and this is thanks to the growing interest in more eco-friendly funerals. A ‘green’ funeral may encompass anything from simply placing the body in a non-toxic, biodegradable casket, to observing stricter environmental practices such as using biodegradable shrouds, banning embalming with formaldehyde products and placing a tree or natural stone to mark the grave rather than an engraved headstone.

Many people choose to bury their loved ones in a specially designated field or woodland area in preference to a churchyard or other traditional burial ground. The idea behind natural burial is to be at one with nature, but families should be aware that marking and tending the grave is often discouraged at natural burial sites, so make sure you have read and understood the site’s policy before arranging the burial. The Natural Death Centre - www.naturaldeath.org.uk - has a list of grounds all around the UK and there are new sites opening every year.

The Natural Death Centre is also happy to advise on ‘DIY’ funerals. There is no legal requirement to use the services of a funeral director, but while you may have good reasons for wanting to go it alone, many families find it very daunting to arrange the practicalities of a funeral without any support from an undertaker.

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Even Angus Townley, who has published a blog on his experiences of arranging an independent funeral for his mother (see www.owletthall.com/an-independent-funeral/) admits: “A funeral director gives peace of mind as they have the experience of getting through all the necessary bureaucratic hoops. Clearly one only has a single chance to get it right.”

A middle way might be to look for a funeral director who will provide you with as much or as little help as you need. Funeral Advisor (www.funeraladvisor.org.uk) is a not-for-profit social enterprise, completely independent of the funeral industry, which aims to help people find a funeral director that is right for them. You can use the search facility on their website to locate local services and even read user reviews.

If the deceased was not particularly religious, then a humanist celebrant may be the right person to lead the burial or cremation ceremony. The British Humanist Association (www. humanism.org.uk) provides information on how to get in touch with a celebrant and what it will cost you to use their services.

Many humanist celebrants specialise in funerals and are therefore familiar with cremation and burial procedures. The celebrant will meet with the family members or friends most closely connected with the person who has died in order to learn more about their life and personality and write an appropriate tribute (you’ll be able to approve their draft prior to the funeral). They can also offer ideas for creating an order of service and advise on music and poetry readings, as well as giving guidance on practical matters such as the sound and lighting equipment at the crematorium and the amount of time available for the committal.

Planning a funeral is never easy, but in recent years the breakdown of many of the taboos that previously surrounded mourning and funerals has helped friends and families express their feelings in a much more personal way. But perhaps the greatest advantage of this new freedom is that it gives space for people suffering the anguish of loss to grieve in a way that brings them the greatest comfort and solace.

by Kate McLelland

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

A Fifth Generation Independent Family Business providing an unrivalled, meaningful and personal Service throughout Telford, Newport & Shropshire • A Professional Caring Service In Your Time Of Need • 24 Hour Personal Service • Horse Drawn & Green Funerals Available • Pre Paid Funeral Plan Specialists • A Full Range Of Headstones Available At Our Dedicated Memorial Showroom L. TRANTER & SON St. Georges, Telford TF2 9JE Tel: (01952) 613932 Email: mail@tranterfunerals.co.uk

EVANS & TRANTER Newport, Shropshire TF10 7BH Tel: (01952) 820292 Email: evans@tranterfunerals.co.uk

L. TRANTER & SON Donnington, Telford TF2 8AB Tel: (01952) 677044 Email: stones@tranterfunerals.co.uk

BAILEY & TRANTER Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7QT Tel: (01952) 433510 Email: mail@tranterfunerals.co.uk

Call us on 01952 613932 or visit www.tranterfunerals.co.uk

Pritchards Masters of Professional Dry-Cleaning & Laundry

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Tel: 01952 641754 ALSO drop off and collection available at Green Fields in Donnington & Priorslee www.pritchardsdrycleaners.com

61

Who’s in control of your computer?

Post-Upgrade Fix-Ups for Windows 10 In previous articles this year I have covered what you can expect from Windows 10 and general advice on whether and how you should take advantage of Microsoft’s free upgrade offer.

Here, I discuss some issues you should take care of should you have made the move to Windows 10.

The first thing to note is that you do have the option to revert to your previous (Windows 7 or 8.1) installation for up to 30 days after your Windows 10 upgrade. You do this via the Recovery part of the Update & Security section in Widown10’s Settings app. The process is usually straightforward and it preserves your data while doing so. You did backup all your data as a precaution before upgrading, didn’t you?! Even if you did, do it again before you revert back.

While Windows 10 generally runs very well, the following actions will help to eliminate issues that you do encounter. Not all of these fixes will necessarily be , but are commonly, needed, and some are technically challenging enough that you might need expert assistance.

by Steve Moss

 Apply all Windows Updates (via the settings

 Go through

app) and app updates (via the Store app). In particular, make sure you install the Version 1511 (November 2015) update for Windows 10.

the - long Privacy section in the Settings app and review what you wish to change. Turning off the Feedback frequency, for instance, will eliminate some unwelcome ‘noise’.

 If you are using MS Office Outlook for your email, run the system file checker (look up “sfc /scannow” via your favourite search engine).

 Update to the latest software for your printer.

Some printers perform badly after the upgrade if you don’t.

 Learn how to customise the Start menu tiles and the taskbar. Making these your own can greatly improve your productivity.

 Verify all your important applications and

apps are working as they should. Most Windows 7/8.1 software works well in Windows 10, but some might need updating.

If you find insurmountable issues after upgrading, you should seek technical help or even back up your data - again - and then revert back to your previous copy of Windows.

 The new ‘Edge’ browser in Windows shows promise, but is really a work-in-progress. For now, consider making Internet Explorer or your favourite other browser the default.

Edge probably won’t mature properly until at least the summer of 2016.

If you have a question you’d like Steve to answer here, either e-mail him at clinic@freeyournet.com or call 07971 321586.

Telford-based FreeYourNet provides IT support and consultancy to businesses and home computer users in the Telford and Shrewsbury regions. For an overview of our services, recommended products and our full contact details please visit our web site at http:// www.freeyournet.com.

Shifnal Laundry & Dry Cleaning Duvet Cleaning:

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www.madeleylaundryanddrycleaning.co.uk 62

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

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What Type of Financial Help

IS AVAILABLE FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS

The thought of buying your first home can be daunting, but there’s help available from the government that you may not know about. Equity loans and mortgage guarantees combine within the Help to Buy scheme, which has been a popular option for many people wanting to get their foot on the property ladder.

Other possibilities include Shared Ownership schemes and Help to Buy ISA products. Additionally, choosing a fixed rate mortgage deal will help you to budget effectively and provides peace of mind that you can afford the repayments.

Here’s how the schemes work:

Help to Buy Many people struggle to save enough money for a deposit, and with mortgage lenders being choosy about who they lend to, the property market can seem out-of-reach for first time buyers.

The government stepped in to help during 2013 by launching their Help to Buy scheme for new-build homes valued at £600,000 or less in England (up to £250,000 in Scotland and £300,000 in Wales). This enabled would-be purchasers to put down a small deposit of only 5%.

There are two parts to the scheme:

Equity Loan You only need to find a deposit of 5% as the government loans you the remaining 20%. The loan is offered interest-free for the first five years, with an interest rate of 1.75% being charged in year six on the amount of the original loan. Subsequent annual rate increases are in line with inflation, using the Retail Price Index plus 1%.

You’ll be able to repay part of the loan early without penalty if you want, and you can sell your home whenever you like. The repayment figure on sale is based on the property’s value at the time so that the government benefits from its rise in value.

Mortgage Guarantee This part of the Help to Buy scheme is available until 31st December 2016 for new-builds and older homes. It is valid for properties worth up to £600,000, and the government provides a guarantee to mortgage lenders for up to 15% of the property value.

The scheme is geared towards purchasers with a low deposit, and is intended to encourage confidence in lenders that their money is safe, increasing the likelihood of them offering a larger number of 95% loan-to-value mortgages.

Shared Ownership The Shared Ownership scheme enables you to own a proportion of your home - usually between 25% and 75% of the property’s value. You pay rent to a housing association on the remaining proportion, but at a subsidised rate.

Some Shared Ownership schemes also make a service charge, and to be eligible for this scheme your total household income must be £60,000 or less.

Shared Ownership helps people to buy their first home because

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rents are generally low, and are paid in conjunction with a mortgage. The housing association may allow you to purchase more of your home over time – usually up to its full value.

This process is called ‘staircasing’ and how much you pay for each additional proportion of your home is based on the property’s value at the time.

One of the downsides of this scheme is that the housing association is entitled to first refusal when you sell, for up to 21 years after purchase, even if you own it outright. Additionally, if you don’t own all of the property, the housing association can decide who will be the next purchaser.

Help to Buy ISA The Help to Buy ISA is a new product offered by the government, and is due to be introduced this month (December). If you make a lump sum deposit of £1,000 the government will boost this amount tax-free by up to £250 when you buy your home, plus by another £50 for each further £200 of monthly savings. There is a limit on these tax free bonuses, however, of £3,000.

If more than one person is buying a property, the bonuses are available to each individual. These savings form part of your total annual ISA allowance, but the boost provided by the government may be a huge help if you’re focusing solely on purchasing a property.

Fixing your mortgage rate If you fix your mortgage rate you’ll be able to budget with confidence, and won’t need to worry about mortgage interest rate rises. Interest rates are expected to increase in the spring of 2016, so this is a good time to look for a suitable fixed rate deal.

It can be difficult to know for how long to fix your rate, but with increases expected over the next few years a five-year term might be the best choice, even though the rates offered will be higher than deals over two or three years.

Uncertain monthly repayment amounts can be a source of great stress for first time buyers, and sometimes takes the enjoyment out of owning a first home. With a little research and pre-planning, however, you can take advantage of the various schemes available, fixing your interest rate to provide some stability and peace of mind. www.moneywise.co.uk/news/2015-09-09/first-time-buyers-to-get-4000deposit-boost www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/hubs/first-time-buyers/ www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/first-time-buyers/ www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-3177711/Timestart-saving-benefit-new-Help-Buy-Isa.html

by Ann Haldon

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

Accountancy Services Practising Public Accountant (UK) Offering a professional service to individuals and businesses in respect of: Accounts Preparation and Tax Returns for individuals, sole traders, Partnerships LLP’s and Limited Companies.

Letting income and expenditure, VAT & Payroll, Business Start Up Advice We provide a friendly, tailored service so you only pay for the service you require.

Fred Checkley

FFA FMAAT FAIA

21 Copperfield Drive, Muxton, Telford TF2 8JG

T: 01952 603849 M: 07753 881976 E: fredcacc@aol.com

Individual Experts Specialising in all Areas of Law

How can we help you today? + Free First Consultation + Home Visits • House Sales & Purchases

• Civil Partnerships

• Wills & Probate

• Commercial Conveyancing

• Trusts & Tax Planning

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7 Church Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1BX Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm Sat 9am - 12pm

Tel: 01952 641 291

The Forum, Victoria Road, Shifnal TF11 8FE Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm Sat by appointment

Tel: 01952 460 777

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CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ENTERTAINMENT

Make your child’s dream come true

Ice Skate with Santa at Telford Ice Rink Professional photographs are being taken on the day - your chance to capture this unique experience.

Santa will also be visiting Telford Soft Play for lucky children aged 6 months - 8 years.

Santa on the Ice takes place on: 12 December 1-3pm 19 December 10.30am-12.30pm & 1-3pm 23 December 1-3pm 24 December 10.30am-2.30pm

Public skating sessions will take place 10.30am-3.30pm weekdays over the Christmas period.

The ice rink is closed Christmas day, Boxing day and New Years day and closes at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

www.telfordandwrekinleisure.co.uk

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Step Back to the 1800s

SEE HOW CHRISTMAS WAS CELEBRATED IN VICTORIAN TIMES

Festive Weekends Blists Hill Victorian Town 5-6 and 12-13 December Residents at Blists Hill Victorian Town, one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire, will be busy preparing for Christmas over the two Festive Weekends of 5 - 6 and 12 - 13 December with a wealth of traditional celebrations and entertainment from the 1800s.

Experience the atmosphere of a bygone era as you explore the town; listen to stories of life more than 100 years ago in the cosy cottages, enjoy seasonal music from bands and choirs and ride on a horse drawn cart. You can also visit Father Christmas in his wonderful grotto and see and pet his reindeer on The Green before they start their mammoth journey around the world on Christmas Eve.

shops including traditionally made cast-iron paperweights and doorstops, handmade plaster decorations, perfumed soaps, hand printed gift wrap and traditional sweets.

Blists Hill will be open from 10am to 4pm on these special Christmas event weekends. Entry is £16.95 for adults, £13.50 for 60 plus, £11.50 for children 5 - 18 years in full time education and under 5s are free. While Annual Passport Tickets are not valid for these weekends, holders will receive a 25% discount off the admission price on presentation of their current Passport. A visit to Father Christmas is £3.50 extra per child.

For further information, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 01952 433 424 or visit www. ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6).

Children can try a wide range of traditional activities in the Goods Shed such as printing Christmas cards, making paper-chain decorations, writing letters to Father Christmas and fun quizzes about fascinating Christmas facts. A ‘perfect Victorian Christmas card scene’ will be on display centred on a beautifully decorated Christmas tree surrounded by presents.

Mr Morton’s Christmas Celebrations will once again see the magnificent Iron Rolling Mill transformed into a place for a ‘workers Christmas party’. Here you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of seasonal entertainment such as Christmas songs, a mini-pantomime and sing-a-long with carol singers.

An unusual selection of Christmas gifts will also be on offer in the museum’s

COMPETITION!

In and Around Magazine has teamed up with The Ironbridge Gorge Museum to offer TWO lucky readers a FREE Family Pass for 2016 - allowing free daytime entry into each of the ten museums on one occasion for two adults and up to three children (aged up to 18 years in full time education); valid for one year!

To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question and email your answer along with your name and address to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk (please put ‘Family Pass’ in the subject)

QUESTION: Which reindeer is famous for his red nose?

Closing date is the 18th December 2015.

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CHILDREN, EDUCATION & ENTERTAINMENT

Blists Hill VICTORIAN TOWN

Christmas Weekends

5 & 6 and 12 & 13 Dec 2015

10am - 4pm

l Meet Father Christmas and his Reindeer l See the Victorian townsfolk prepare for Christmas

25% discount for

in the shops & cottages l Carol Singers, Brass Bands & mini-pantomime

Annual Passport Ticket holders

BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE

www.ironbridge.org.uk or on the gate.

01952 433424 Annual Passport Tickets cannot be used for admission to the Christmas Weekends

PETS:

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DENTAL PROBLEMS IN YOUR RABBIT?

It’s not necessarily tooth decay that causes dental problems in a rabbit. Teeth that grow at a rate of 2mm per week, combined with the wrong type of diet, are more likely to be at fault. Rabbits’ teeth should be ground down by their food, and if this doesn’t happen they can develop overgrown molars or spurs of enamel that cut into the soft tissue in their mouth.

Foods rich in fibre that also wear down the teeth, such as hay and dark green leafy vegetables, will stop incisors becoming too long.

To help you spot the telltale signs of trouble, and deal effectively with your rabbit’s dental health, here are some of the signs to look out for.

Lack of grooming Rabbits naturally groom themselves, and if yours has stopped grooming it can lead to a range of other problems including fly strike, a potentially fatal disease. Rabbits use their teeth during the grooming process, so lack of cleanliness on their part could mean that their teeth are sore.

Loss of weight It may be painful for them to eat, resulting in a rapid loss of weight. The abrasive nature of hay in particular could be causing them pain.

Drooling If your rabbit has started to drool, it might be due to dental problems. Also look out for wetness on their front paws.

Your vet should be able to smooth any enamel spurs, and keeping an eye on your rabbit’s general behaviour can also help to pinpoint problems. www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/health/dental/

By Ann Haldon 69

Home & Interiors

BUYING A BESPOKE KITCHEN

All in the detail

With a bespoke kitchen, no detail is spared. It may be the dovetailing of the drawers or the way veneers are matched so they run perfectly across from one cupboard or drawer to the next. It may be the combination of base and wall cupboards, perhaps with open shelves and free-standing dressers; or it may be the size and shape of the island unit – square, rectangular, curved, stepped or any design you like. Special appliances or cooking utensils can be measured and interiors designed to suit, for the ultimate, ‘everything in its place’ room that combines good looks with functionality.

Working with a designer If you have an awkwardly shaped room or want more than one-size-fits-all options, then your obvious choice is a custom-made kitchen.

Buying a bespoke kitchen is like asking a tailor to make you a dress. Rather than squeezing into a ready-made garment that’s just like thousands of others, you get a unique and perfectly fitting outfit that makes the most of your best bits and disguises the worst. It’s attractive, comfortable and, whilst a little more costly (okay, sometimes a lot more costly), it will always look good and should last a lifetime. In kitchen terms, this means that a bespoke commission can cope with wonky walls, strange dimensions and interesting architectural features, will adapt to whatever’s required of it, whether chaotic family meals or haute cuisine dinner parties, and will use high quality materials that will stand the test of time. What’s more, you’re guaranteed that it’s one of a kind.

Before contacting a bespoke kitchen company, it’s wise to start considering what type of kitchen you want; otherwise, the possibilities could simply be overwhelming. Many people find it helpful to keep a scrapbook of designs they like. That said, an experienced designer will be able to guide you through the maze of choices, asking the right questions about your style and how you use your kitchen in order to reach the best design.

There will be one or more site visits for consultations, planning and measuring up, followed by drawings and costings. Once you have approved these, it will take several weeks or even months for your furniture to be hand-built and, during this time, you should complete any structural work. Then your units will be fitted by an expert team and templates made for worktops and splashbacks – which will then be made to measure. Finally, there’s likely to be a sign-off visit to fine-tune any problems and check that you’re happy with the result.

Why buy bespoke?

Buy an off-the-peg kitchen and your choices are limited.

Yes, there’ll be a selection of door styles, carcass sizes and, hopefully, several different worktops, but that’s about it. If your wall is a few centimetres longer than the standard run of cupboards, you’ll end up with a gap. It might be called a tray slot or space for a pull-out towel rail, but it’s still a gap. A bespoke kitchen, on the other hand, will be built to the exact dimensions of the room, large or small. You want extra-high base units? You’ve got them, to the millimetre. Extra-deep worktops? No problem. A combination of different, perhaps unusual, materials? Just say the word. With bespoke you can choose the type of timber or the colour of the paint (if you’re having a painted kitchen, you could match the shade to, say, your favourite mug). You can specify any worktop, handle or appliance you like, or even go so far as to have special matching sockets fitted. As managing director and chief designer Andrew Hall, of Woodstock Furniture, says: ‘The beauty of a bespoke kitchen design service is that you will end up with an ergonomic, cohesive and unified space that is completely unique and tailored to your individual needs.’

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IMAGES: Top: Bespoke open-plan kitchen, Woodstock Furniture: Tel 020 8876 0131; www.woodstockfurniture.co.uk Above: Long House kitchen, Plain English: Tel 0870 240 3562; www.plainenglishdesign.co.uk

by Katherine Sorrell

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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LOCAL MANUFACTURER www.mcs-flintstone.co.uk Flintstone, Unit H7, Halesfield 19, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 4QT. Email: sales@mcs-flintstone.co.uk 71

A.P.H Windows 01952 680441 www.aphwindows.co.uk Manufacturers & Installers of High Quality • Fully Welded uPVC Windows, Doors & Conservatories • Internally Glazed with high Security Locks • Composite Doors • Garage Doors • Fascias, Soffits & Guttering • Building Extensions

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©Puzzlepress.co.uk

kitchens • bathrooms • bedrooms

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Make Room for Guests

AT CHRISTMAS

The tree is decorated and the turkey in the freezer, but are you ready to welcome friends and family this Christmas? Katherine Sorrell outlines some quick and easy ways to create extra space for holiday visitors.

Lounging around When you’re passing the Quality Street around in front of the Bond film, you’re going to need somewhere for everyone to relax in the living room. If the sofas and armchairs are full, bring in beanbags for the kids and pop cushions on top of coffee tables and benches to create a few extra TV-viewing spaces.

A bed for the night No guest room? No problem. A sofa bed, day bed or futon – or simply a longish sofa – will do the trick. A good quality airbed is a great thing to have in the back of a cupboard, too. If your living room is acting as a temporary bedroom, clear away as much as possible so your guests have room to put down their luggage, and place a small lamp near the head of their ‘bed’ and a spare throw or blanket nearby. A box, bag or basket into which they can stow bedding during the day will also help keep things tidy.

Dinner is served An extendable dining table is perfect for accommodating additional guests. Ideally, choose one that doesn’t require you to store an extra leaf in the loft or somewhere equally awkward.

Alternatively, you could enlarge your table temporarily by topping it with an overhanging sheet of plywood (you might want to protect the table with a pad or cloth first), covered with a pretty tablecloth or flat sheet, making sure the edges aren’t too wobbly. Another way to tackle the problem is to create a separate dining table – maybe just for kids – using anything with a flat surface, from a trestle table to a coffee table, surrounded by cushions on the floor.

Any old china If you haven’t got enough crockery for all your guests, plan ahead and pick up extras at car boot sales, charity shops or vintage shops. If you pick a colour theme and mix with some plain white dinnerware, you can make a virtue of the fact that they don’t exactly match. The same goes for glasses and cutlery. If all else fails, have a stack of paper plates to hand – no one will mind once the turkey is dished out, and at least you’ll save on washing up!

Are you sitting comfortably?

If you have a shortage of dining chairs, consider investing in a few inexpensive folding chairs that you could hide out of the way when not in use. They might come in handy for picnics next summer, too.

If you’re not keen on how they look, try covering them with pillowcases and adding

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a pretty cushion. Alternatively, a flat-topped stool can double as a seat and as a side table – handy next to that seldom-used guest bed, too – and will slide out of the way under the table when not in use.

Hallway solutions Extra guests means a proliferation of coats, shoes, boots and umbrellas – which can all too easily end up in a messy pile just inside the front door. A simple stacking shoe rack will always come in handy, as will a few extra hooks mounted on the wall.

How about a free-standing coat rack? Or, for cheap and instant space-saving, over-door racks, hooks and shoe organisers can be added anywhere in the house.

Eat, drink and be merry No doubt everyone will be doing a little extra eating and drinking at this time of year, so aim to create enough room in your kitchen to store all your festive goodies by clearing out your cupboards and fridge in good time. Add internal racks, shelves, boxes and baskets so you can stack everything neatly (clear plastic makes it easy to see everything at once).

Bathroom bliss Regular de-cluttering is always a good idea in the bathroom – so have a good sort out before your guests arrive and clear plenty of space for them to store their toiletries. If you have really run out of room, look for bath and shower caddies that attach by hook or suction, allowing you to stock all sorts of products out of the way.

As a finishing touch, provide clean towels on a separate hook or rail from your own – a clothes airer that hooks over a radiator is a great gadget for this – and some luxury soaps. Your visitors will never want to go home…

IMAGES - TOP: Stella sofa bed in Herringbone, £1,340, sofa.com, 0845 400 2222. LEFT: Homer flip-top kitchen table, £625, Loaf, 0845 468 0698; www.loaf.com.

by Ann Haldon

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

W O N L L CA R U O Y T TO GE ER N R U B LOG !

D E T T I F

Installation of Fires & Stoves DDFlue Linings DDLog Burners DDOpen Fires DDChimney Cowls DDChimney Work

Hetas approved installer of Solid Fuel Chimney Systems The installation of all Wood Burning Stoves or other Solid Fuel Burning Appliances MUST comply with building regulations, HETAS installers are qualified fitters who can self-certify their own work, ensuring the installation is safe and legal.

As seen on C4’s Restoration Man

Call Lee at ALC on 01952 276417 or 07813 921907 E: lee.alpine@yahoo.co.uk

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Celebrating 33 Years in Business

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TARGET Excellent: 15 or more words Good: 12 words Fair: 9 words

T

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O E 76

N N C

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

THE COMPLETE HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY • Bespoke Conservatories • Orangeries • High Quality Secure Windows • Doors & Distinctive Porches • Extensions & Garage Conversions • Facias Soffits & Guttering

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mpany with over 20 R&R Services Ltd, Unit B4, Stafford Park 15, Telford TF3 3BB • Fax: 01952 299624 ars experience 77

Finding Gifts

FOR THE “NOTHING I NEED” BRIGADE

“Don’t buy me anything. There’s nothing I need.”

Isn’t that the most irritating thing anyone can say to you in the lead-up to Christmas? Especially after you’ve searched the shops for hours or pored over hundreds of websites, trying to think of a suitable present.

It’s the festive season, and not buying anything just isn’t an option, unless you want to feel like a cross between the Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning. But what do you get for those friends or family members who genuinely seem to have everything? I’m not talking a mansion, a yacht and a Ferrari: just all the things they need for comfortable, everyday living.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when it’s likely they will have collected all the knick-knacks, gadgets and gizmos they could ever want. If my friends and relatives are anything to go by, this time also seems to coincide with a narrowing down of tastes and desires.

For example, my older brother used to love experimenting with food and drink: he was never happier than when he was given a jar of some obscure sauce or a bottle of cranberry and basil wine as a present. However in recent years he has become fairly risk averse when it comes to sampling new things, and now it’s all I can do to get him to try a new brand of coffee. It’s the same with TV box sets, music and even clothes.

He’s reached the age when he knows what he likes and no longer wants to try something new.

So what are the options when it comes to buying an original gift for the man or woman who says: “There’s nothing I need”?

Give a goat If your friend or relative has a kind heart, they may enjoy knowing that their Christmas gift has been used to help someone less fortunate. Giving a goat or a hen on their behalf can be a lifesaver for desperate families trying to survive in areas affected by war or drought. At Oxfam (www.oxfam.org.uk) it costs just £25 to buy a goat for a needy family, who will use your gift to produce nutritious dairy products such as milk and cheese. Oxfam also supplies a brightly coloured gift card that explains your purchase.

An unforgettable experience If you’ve run out of gift ideas for your nearest and dearest, why not give them an experience? It could be anything from afternoon tea for two at a choice of 70 hotels and restaurants nationwide (£36 from www.redletterdays.co.uk), to a hot air champagne balloon flight for one (from £109 at www.buyagift. co.uk). This isn’t the kind of gift you can keep in your bottom

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drawer, but the lucky recipient is unlikely to ever forget the sensation of drifting high over the British countryside with a glass of bubbly in their hand.

Go retro If your recipient has everything he or she needs to live in the 21st century, why not go retro? For a number of years now there has been a trend towards reviving and celebrating the stuff of childhood memories. Treat them to a retro sweet hamper (£36) or a retro chocolate gift box (£12.95) full of Munchies, Curly Wurlies and other nostalgic goodies: both from www.retrosweets.co.uk. Vintage board games are also popular and you can buy old games in “as new” condition from online retailers such as eBay and Amazon.

Adopt a rare animal The World Wildlife Fund (now called WWF) has another clever gift idea for people who like to feel they are helping a good cause. Go to www.wwf.org.uk and buy an “adopt a wild animal” pack as a gift. This isn’t an actual adoption – your donation won’t be linked to a specific animal – but the adoption pack does include a cuddly toy version of the chosen species.

Buy a gift voucher It used to be that gift vouchers could only be exchanged at one particular retailer, but those days are long gone. The “Love2Shop” voucher can be spent in over 20,000 UK locations, including restaurants, hotels, spas and leisure resorts (www.highstreetvouchers.com). You can also buy vouchers that can be redeemed at garden centres and theatres.

Can’t afford any of the above?

If your Christmas gift budget won’t stretch to the items mentioned here, consider giving the gift of your time. Buy a small gift box and enclose a note promising to do something for the recipient: a couple of hours of gardening; baking a cake every week for a month; decorating the spare room.

These gifts are a far cry from a boring box of toiletries or a shirt and tie set, and at least you’ll win Brownie points for original thinking. You’ll also avoid the dirty looks and long silences that come from having taken the “Nothing I need” brigade’s protestations too literally!

by Kate McLelland

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Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26.

The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the grid to the right.

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Best Tech

TEN BEST TECH GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS

Christmas is coming, and that means it’s shopping time - but what do you buy a gadget-crazy friend or relative?

These are the best tech gifts for Christmas.

1. A TV streamer - Whether it’s Amazon’s £35 Fire TV stick or

Google’s £30 Chromecast, a TV streamer can turn a flat screen TV into a smart TV. Amazon’s version gives you Amazon Prime Instant Video while Chromecast offers Netflix (if you subscribe). Both devices have a range of free services too.

2. FishHunter - Buying for a fisherman or woman? The £149

FishHunter is a sonar fish-finder that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and can find fish at depths of up to 120 feet - or you could buy the £100 WaterWolf HD fishing camera, which can record up to four hours of fishy footage at depths of up to 100m.

3. Windows 10 - If you didn’t like Windows 8 very much you’re not alone - but Windows 10 is much, much better and comes on a dizzying range of good quality, affordable laptops - for example, the superb HP Stream is £180.

4. TomTom Spark - Fitness trackers are everywhere, but the £189

TomTom Spark stands out from the crowd by offering music storage for 500 songs as well as sleep and activity tracking. Too pricey? The excellent Fitbit Flex is £55.

5. Parrot drone - You can spend hundreds or even thousands of

pounds on a drone quadricopter, but for £69 the Parrot Rolling Spider delivers an awful lot of fun for a relatively low price. It’s a flying drone, of course, but it can also roll along on removable wheels to perform acrobatics.

6. iPad Mini - The iPad Mini is the cheapest way to get the iPad

experience, and its Retina display is a pleasure to look at. Prices start at £319. If that’s a bit steep, Tesco’s £99 Android-powered Hudl 2 and Amazon’s £79 Kindle Fire HD are great value for money.

7. ZX Spectrum - The iconic eighties home computer is back for 2015

in two forms: the £100 Vega, which is designed purely for games and only has a few buttons, and the £89 Remastered, which is a bluetooth keyboard that can play old Spectrum programs. The Vega comes preloaded with hundreds of games, while the Remastered can potentially access 10,000 Spectrum titles.

8. Skylanders, Disney Infinity or Minecraft anything - The

big games for children this year are Skylanders Superchargers and Disney Infinity 3.0, both of which are available for all major consoles and which use interchangeable toys to unlock in-game characters. And then there’s Minecraft, the global phenomenon: the children probably have the game already but there’s a huge range of officially licensed merchandise to choose from including action figures, books and soft toys.

9. Smartwatch - It isn’t cheap - prices start at £299 - but Apple’s

watch is the prettiest and most desirable smartwatch around, although it’s useless without an iPhone. If your recipient has an Android phone the Moto 360 2 (£229) is the best-looking Android Wear, while the £95 Pebble Steel works with Apple and Android and has garnered rave reviews.

10. Gift cards - Not strictly tech, we know, but if you’re buying for

someone who already has everything they want then iTunes, Google Play or Amazon gift cards are a good bet. iTunes cards are often sold with big discounts of up to 20%, so it’s worth hanging on for the deals before you buy.

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Images top to bottom: Parrot Rolling Spider drone; ZX Spectrum Vega console; officially licensed Minecraft mug; TomTom Spark fitness watch

HOME SERVICES

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Down

3. Large predatory

1. Dock worker (9)

semiaquatic reptile with long jaws (9)

8. Archaic form of the word ‘you’ (4) 9. Brightly coloured handkerchief often worn about the neck (8) 10. Hindu divinity worshipped as the preserver of worlds (6) 13. Wild dog of Australia (5) 14. Daphne du Maurier novel (7) 16. Former capital of Burma (7) 17. One dozen dozen (5) 21. Small recess opening off a larger room (6) 22. Drink made of wine mixed with sparkling water (8) 23. Fruit also called the Chinese gooseberry (4) 24. Heavenly being of the highest rank (9)

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fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk • www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

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15. Line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet (7) 18. Canal boat (5) 19. Goading instrument on a horse rider’s heel (4) 20. White substance beneath the peel of fruit (4)

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11. Citadel in ancient Greek towns (9) 12. Television, newspapers, radio, etc (4,5)

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6. Brewery cart (4) 7. Period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (4)

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Book Review

GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Buying a book for someone can be a bit of a minefield… Will they enjoy it? Do they already have a copy? Will you be able to borrow it? Hopefully our top picks of recent releases will help you to navigate that minefield and get you on Santa’s good side.

Faber Poetry Diary 2016 – Various

The Lake House – Kate Morton

This is one of those books that you get given one year, and then find yourself buying as a gift for years to come. A week-toview diary that offers a poem or illustration for each week, the Faber Poetry Diary makes Monday mornings just that bit more enjoyable. The 2016 version includes a wide variety of poets, from Simon Armitage to Wendy Cope, via Dylan Thomas, Alice Oswald, Sylvia Plath and a whole lot more.

It’s 1933 and a missing child throws the privileged Edevane family into a downward spiral. Fast forward seventy years and the child’s older sister, Alice, finds herself re-opening old wounds when a police detective starts asking questions about the unsolved case. A real page-turner, this is the kind of book you want to curl up and disappear into on Boxing Day. (It’s also a great one to give as a gift in the understanding that you get to read it once the recipient has finished with it.)

The Jacqueline Wilson Christmas Cracker – Jacqueline Wilson Packed with Christmas tales featuring some of Jacqueline Wilson’s best loved characters, this book is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit with girls aged 7-11. Tracy Beaker takes a starring role, and there are also appearances from identical twins Ruby and Garnet, along with Hetty Feather and other favourites. There are also festive puzzles, recipes, craft ideas, fun facts and more to keep her entertained long after the latest ‘must-have’ toy has been discarded. Ideally, give it as a gift early on in December, so that the recipient can make full use of the present-wrapping tips and Christmas craft ideas.

Everyday Super Food – Jamie Oliver No present list would be complete without at least one cookery book, and Jamie Oliver seems to be a favourite with everyone from wannabee Junior Masterchefs to seasoned bakers. With Everyday Super Food, Jamie is making it his mission to prove that low-calorie, nutritious meals can still be pretty darn delicious. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all covered and there’s something to tempt most taste buds, from spicy ‘Energy Balls’ to ‘Super Tasty Miso Broth’ and ‘Harissa Roasted Aubergine’.

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The Three-Year Swim Club – Julie Checkoway Buying for a biography lover? This inspiring book tells the story of a school teacher in 1930s Maui who wanted to give his under-privileged pupils a brighter future. Soichi Sakamoto set out to transform the children into Olympic swimmers, despite not having any training himself, and the fact that most of the children had never seen a swimming pool. A great read for lovers of tales of triumph over adversity.

The Magical Christmas – Lizzie Mary Cullen Who would have thought that colouring books for adults would have become such a phenomenon? If you know a fan, or are just buying a present for someone who could seriously do with a chance to unwind, The Magical Christmas is a good choice.

From traditional gingerbread houses to alternative Christmas days (surfing in Sydney anyone?), each turn of the page reveals a new intricate scene just waiting for pen or pencil to bring it to life. The only difficult part of this gift is resisting the urge to start colouring it in yourself.

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Admaston

at Admaston House Comm. Centre: Mon: Yoga; 6-9.30pm, Cubs 6.30-8pm, Bollywood Dancing 7.30-8.30pm.

Tue: Pushchair people 9.30am-12pm, Guitar lessons 4.30-7pm, Brownies 5.30-6.45pm, Guides 7-8.30pm, Rangers 7-8.30pm, Men’s alpha 7-9pm.

Wed: Painting 10-12, T.C.A.T. Public lunch 10.30-1pm, WI 2-4pm (1st Wed of mth), Weight Watchers 6-7.30pm, Beavers 6-8pm, T.C.A.T. Cooking around the world 6-8pm Thu: Coffee morning 10-12.30pm, Scouts 7-9pm, Explorers (age14-18) 7.30-9.30pm, Ladies alpha 7.309.30pm.

Fri: Mini mud pies 10-12, Community cafe 9.30-2pm, Youth club 7.30-9pm If you would like further info. on above visit www.admastonhouse.org.uk or contact Derrick Powell on 01952 247908

Church Aston

Crafty Sew and Sews - we meet for sewing, knitting and other crafts at the Church Hall, Church Aston on Tuesdays from 2-4pm. New members welcome.

Church Aston Thursday Club meet fortnightly Thu afternoon 2pm till 4pm, speakers, outings. Contact Sylvia 01952 402744 or 812092 at Church Aston Village Hall: Mon: 10-11am Zumba, 11.30-12.30 Beg. Pilates, 2-4pm U3A Sewing/Craft Grp (alt.wks), 7-10pm Whist Tue: 10-12 Tai Chi, 6.30-9.30pm Line Dancing Wed: 9.30-10.25 Easy Tone, 10.30-11.15 Kettle Bell Class, 4.30-4.30 Kids Dance Classes, 7-10pm Whist Thu: 2-4pm Whist, 6-8pm Cubs Fri: 2-4pm Tea dance, 4.15-6 Twinkle toe dance, 6-7 Beavers, 7-8 Scouts Sun: 2nd Sun of Mth. Table Top Sale 11-1. Amanda 07905 528438 to book (No sale Aug and Nov is 3rd Sunday).

From 7pm Ballroom Dance Lessons

Dawley

Dawley Traditional Market - Every Friday, Meadow Rd car park. Contact 01952 380934 Telford Christian Fellowship, Christian Worship & Prayer for Healing, Sun 10:30am-12pm at the Dawley Hse, 2 Burton St, Dawley TF4 2ES. Contact Giles Higgins 01952 272961 www. tcfonline.org.uk Dawley Christian Centre: Mon: 5-8pm Brownies & Rainbows, Tue: 9.30-11.30 - Stay & play groups for under 5’s Wed: Slimming World at 9.30am, Call Celia on 07575 123666 Fri: 2-4pm - Computer Club (3rd Fri each mth) 9am-12pm Table Top Sale

Donnington

Oakengates Rangers Colts U11’s Football Club - are looking to recruit male and female players for the 2014/2015 season - if you are currently aged 10-11 please feel free to come along.Training every Thursday, 6pm to 7:30pm at Donnington football pitches (near Little Theatre). Contact Nik: 07506 722488 or Saul: 07411 467341.

Telford Sea Cadets – Tue & Thu nights 6.45-9pm, Cadets is for ages 12-18, Juniors 10-11. See website for details or contact us by email: Telford. seacadets@yahoo.com Thu - The Creation Station ‘Little Explorer’ pre-schooler arts & crafts sessions. Cordingley Hall, Wellington Road. 10.15 to 11.05 (term-time) Call to

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book your place 0844 854 9128. at Donnington Methodist Church: 2nd Sunday of every month - Messy Church (3-4.30pm). Everyone invited.

If you are a child you will need to bring an adult with you! An hour of fun, games & craft activities, don’t wear your best clothes. Donations welcomed. We don’t expect you to belong to a church.

Edgmond

at Edgmond Village Hall (Contact Anne Green 01952 814312 or Denise Bishop 07718 424957 for further details): 7th Nov Talk and Tea at 3pm. Two interesting talks covering “World War 1 Battle Sites” and “My days in the RAF” with tea and scones during the break.

29th Nov Christmas Fair 11am-4pm.

Numerous stalls and refreshments.

Hadley

Hadley Traditional Market - Wed every week, Hadley Local Centre. Contact 01952 380934 Telford Wine Making & Home Brewing Club - at Hadley Rest Rooms, (by the Sikh Temple) on the 1st Thu of month 7.45 to 8pm. For info contact Chris Hall on 01384 345408 or Sharon on sharon_collins75@yahoo.com Wrekin and Telford Singers meet at Hadley Methodist church every Friday at 7.30pm. We are a mixed choir with no audition. Visitors wishing to come and listen in are most welcome.

Horsehay

Horsehay and District Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 3rd Mon of each month at Horsehay Village Hall at 7.30pm. Call 01952 503535 for more info.

Horsehay Methodist Church - coffee morning on Wed 10.30-noon. Parents & toddlers on Fri mornings 10-11.30am.

Youth group Fri 7-8.30pm (10 to 14 yr olds) National Organisation of the Widowed - meet every 4th Wednesday of the month at Horsehay Village Hall at 7.30pm. Anyone interested call Keith on 01952 598924 or Doreen on 01952 502551.

Lawley

Learn to Play Bridge - at Lawley Community Centre. For further information contact Peter Seager on 01952 419999 Lawley WI meet on the 1st Tue of every month at 7.15pm StJohn’s Church Hall at Lawley. For more info. call Jill Gould on 01952 597994.

Lilleshall

4-6th Dec - Christmas Tree Festival - St Michael and All Angels Church Lilleshall Lilleshall Women’s Institute - Open to all age groups - speakers, demonstrations, refreshments and raffle. At Lilleshall Memorial Hall 3rd Tue of month 7.30pm. Guests £2 per session. Contact Francis Taylor 01952 604718

Madeley

Madeley Art Club - meets every Mon (exc. Bank Hols), 9:30am-12 noon @ Jubilee Hall, Madeley - all over 55’s welcome. For more info call Aneita on 01952 590304.

Madeley Traditional Market - Tue & Sat – every week, Russell Square. Contact 01952 380934 Life Drawing - every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm at Jubilee House, Madeley.

Excellent tutor. For more info. call the WEA 01952 614451 or email telfordcentre@wea.org.uk.

1st Wed each month - Madeley Townswomen Guild meets 7.30pm

at the Common Room, Bridle Court, Bridle Rd. Madeley, TF7 5SG Contact 01952 878069.

Muxton

Muxton Movers walking group - meet on a Tue & Thu evening, 7.15pm at Muxton School for an hour of fairly flat walking. Sundays, at 6.30pm, cover approx. 7 miles, in 1.5hrs. New members are welcome! at St John’s Church Muxton: Mon: Painting Club 2-4pm (term time), 4.15om onwards Blue Branches Drama Academy Tue: Tiny Tots (10am, 1pm term time), Rainbows - followed by Brownies & Guides Wed: In Stitches 2pm (1st & 3rd Wed) Embroiderers Guild 8pm (every 4th Wed) Muxton Ladies 7.45pm (1st Wed each mth) Thu: Afternoon Fellowship 2.30-4pm monthly & Beacon 7.45pm Fri: Lunch Club Over 50’s (1st Fri of mth) Sub:Zero – Youth Cafe, yrs7+ 4-6pm Sat: Young Embroiderers (Mthly), Prayer Breakfast (bi-monthly) Available for hire for parties etc..

Sun: Church Services 11am Available for hire for parties etc..

If you would like further info. on the above activities - contact the church on 01952 670033

Newport

4th Dec (Fri) - “Sounds Of Time” show 7.30p.m. – midnight at Newport Navy Club, Bellmans Yard, Newport TF10 7AJ. T 07772 611540 (Jez, club steward) to reserve your tickets.

Tickets £5 in advance. £6 on the door.

11th Dec (Fri) - “Jerry and the Hatricks”. 7.30p.m. – midnight. at Newport Navy Club, Bellmans Yard, Newport TF10 7AJ. T 07772 611540 (Jez, club steward) to reserve your tickets. Tickets £5 in advance. £6 on the door.

15th Dec - U3A Newport - next meeting 2pm at The Royal British Legion Club, Audley Avenue, Newport.

Anthony Crowe will present a slide talk “Christmas fun!”. Visitors are welcome.

Admission £1.

15th Jan (Fri) - Newport Inner Wheel Club invites you to their Annual Lean Lunch at Cosy Hall. Newport. 12pm -2pm £4.50 includes Soup, Sweet and Coffee. Tombola. Proceeds in aid of Inner Wheel Charities including Dog A.I.D, Assistance in Disability. Pay on the door and enjoy a warm welcome Newport (SALOP) and District Male Voice Choir - seeking new members for well established friendly choir, meet 7.30pm on Mondays at Trinity Church Wellington Rd Newport. Novices are welcome, come along for a taster session. You do not to be a Tom Jones, just someone who can hold a note and fit in to the choir. For more infor visit our website, or call 01952 813267.

Shropshire WIldlife Trust (Newport) meet 7.30-9pm on 2nd Tue of month (exc. Dec), Church Aston Church Hall, Newport TF10 9JG. £2 members, £3 non-members, inc. refreshments.

The Dalen Singers is a small, friendly, mixed voice choir founded 30 years ago in Newport. Rehearsals on Tue evenings, 7pm at Trinity Church, Wellington Road, Newport. If you would like to meet us just come to rehearsals, you will be very welcome, or ring secretary 01952 811741 for more information.

Used Toner Cartridges - Shrewsbury Music Therapy Trust are collecting and recycling used printer ink-jet cartridges in order to raise funds to support children with learning difficulties.

Drop off at Card n Play (High Street, Newport), box towards back of the shop.

Dressmaking Classes at Cosy Hall, Newport on Thu’s - 10am-12.30pm and 7.30-9.30pm ‘Saturday Sewing Bee’ 2-5pm, monthly. Details and booking contact Catherine on 01952 276061. catherine@lovedressmaking.co.uk www.facebook.com/lovedressmaking Toy Library in Cottage Care Centre, Newport, every Friday 9.45-11.30, preschool age. Contact Steve Ravenscroft 01952 811935 or just call in.

Newport RNA Club - Excellent venue with warm friendly atmosphere.

Function room for hire. Mon - bridge club, Tue - open mic, Wed - pool, Thu bingo, Fri - dominoes/quiz nights/live entertainment, Sat - live entertainment.

Pay on door. Non-Members £3. 07772 611540 Newport French Evening Classes For Adults - At Adams` Grammar School Conversational Classes Thursdays. For further info call Lynn on 01952 812944 or email lynnjones2@freeuk.com Serendipity Singles, 45+, established in Shropshire, now meeting in Newport.

Full details from 07704 792610 Newport Scouts, Longford Road HQ. Beavers, Thu’s at 6pm; Cubs, Wed’s at 6pm; Scouts, Wed’s 7.30 pm. Contact: Liz on 07780 611260 Newport Flower Arranging Class - held every Thursday (starting 25th Sep14) 1:30-3pm at Newport Cricket Club.

Qualified teacher, all welcome, inc. beginners. Contact Catherine Bentley on 01952 811989.

The Guild of Silk Painters - meetings are held from 7-9.30pm on the third Monday of each month atCosy Hall, Water Lane Newport. Contact Margaret 01785 254803, Diana 01785 223339 or Anethia 01952 813101.

Female 77 - Meetings held every Wednesday during term time at Newport Cottage Hospital 8pm.

Speakers,demonstrations and outings.

New members welcome. Contact Chris 01952 811533 Newport Wine Appreciation Group meet from 7pm-9pm on Tue’s at Cosy Hall, Newport. Beginners and more experienced enthusiasts welcome.

Contact Geoff on 01743 884658 Newport Life Drawing and Figure Sculpting Workshops – Saturday mornings at Adams’ Grammar School.

For further information please call Michael on 07528489320 or email michaeljamespotter@hotmail.co.uk Newport Farmers’ Market – 3rd Thu of every month, The Square and The Buttercross, Newport – Contact Tel 01952 380934 Newport Town Brass Band rehearse at Harper Adams University every Wednesday. 7:30 - 9:30pm. All players welcome. Contact via: newportband@ blueyonder.co.uk Newport Trefoil Guild meets monthly on a Thursday at Cosy Hall, Water Lane. All members/ex members of Girl Guiding welcome. Contact Cris 01952 253960 for further details.

Newport Photographic Club - meet 7.45pm on Tues (Sep-Jun) in the Baptist Church Hall in Water Lane, Newport. See www.newportphotoclub. com for details.

Pitchcroft & Church Aston WI Meetings held 3rd Wed of month in Church Hall, Church Aston at 7.30 pm.

Variety of speakers & demonstrations.

Guests admission is £3.50. Contact Sheila Johnstone 01952 820294 for further details.

Oakengates

Oakengates Traditional Market Saturday – every week, Limes Walk.

Contact 01952 380934.

The Telford & District branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society hold a Monthly Social on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12.30pm to 2.30pm at the Salvation Army Hall in Oakengates. There is a short chair based exercise session followed by refreshments & a chance to chat - open

COMMUNITY & WHATS ON

to anyone affected by MS. Branch Helpline number: 07866 628593.

Boys’ Brigade - Tue at Oakengates United Church - 6pm Anchor Boys’, 7pm Junior Boys’ Brigade (Contact: 01952 608007). Fri 7pm Company Section open to boys and girls year 7+.

(Alan Talbot on 01952 612075) Oakengates Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 4th Thu of each month at the United Reform Church at 7pm. Call 01952 261 207 for more info.

Priorslee

Sewing Machine Classes - Every Tuesday at Priorslee Primary Academy, 7pm -9pm. All abilities welcome, beginners courses and led activities.

Call Nicky on 01952 201502 for more details.

Tea & Natter at St. Peter’s Church, Church Rd, Priorslee, 2pm-3pm, bring & buy with a draw. Every 4th Thu of the month. Come and join us for a chat with drinks & refreshments 50p – all are welcome.

AgeUk over 60’s Pub Lunch Club at the Flaming Grill, Priorslee, meet 2nd Monday of each month. Please contact Pauline Comley for further details 01952 200359 Family Praise at St Peters Church, Church Rd, Priorslee: All-Age Worship, 2nd Sunday of each month, 1/2hour service, 10-10:30am, ideal for children!

Contact Chris Harris 07941 961461 or email stpeterspriorslee@btinternet. com Priorslee Lions Chess Club - Monday nights from 7:30pm - The Lion, Shifnal Road, Priorslee www.priorsleelionschessclub.co.uk Whist Drive - Every Sat, at Priorslee Scout Hut, 7.15pm prompt - everyone welcome, Call 01952 242009 for details.

Carers` Group meets every last Tue of month, 2.30-4.30pm at the Old Fire Station, Shifnal. Contact Ivy 01952 750228 (day only) for more details. at Redhill Primary School - more details from Tim Carter, tim.carter@ podchurch.org.uk: GodStories: Families exploring Bible stories together – craft, drama, story telling, and cake. 1st Sunday of the month, 4:30–6pm.

Alpha Cafe: Explore some of the big questions of life together over afternoon tea/coffee. Activities for children. Chilled family Sunday afternoon out. 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month, 4:30-5:30pm.

Sunday Afternoon Thing: Relaxed, family friendly, church get together for worship, prayer and Bible teaching, with PeaPods group for younger children. 3rd Sunday of month, 4:306pm.

Shawbirch

Shawbirch Community Centre: Mon: Youth Club 10-15 yrs (6–8pm) Tue: Youth Club 10-13 yrs (3:30–5pm) Wed: Bridge Club (7pm – 10pm) Thu: Bingo / Social Club (6:45pm – 8:45pm) (every other week) Fri: Telford Stage School - 5.45pm The community centre is available to hire evenings & weekends.

For further info. call 01952 248538.

Shifnal

at St Mary’s Church, Shifnal: 24th Dec Xmas Eve - Blessing of Crib and Vigil Mass 4:30pm 25th Dec Xmas Day - 9am Holy Mass 27th Dec - 9am Holy Mass Shifnal Senior Citizens meet every Friday afternoon in the Social Club in Curriers Lane, Shifnal at 2-4pm Membership £6 per year. All Senior Citizens are welcome.

Shifnal Tots and Toddlers meet every Thursday 9:15am til 11am in term time at the Youth Club, Bridgnorth Road.

Children 4 years and under with their carers welcome.

Shifnal Tennis Club - Social play every Mon & Wed 6.30 onwards. New members always welcome including beginners or ‘back to tennis’ , junior coaching available throughout the week. Contact Merill Holt 07762 15270 or Head Coach Ian Gillespie 07761 970759 for juniors.

LIVE AT HOME - Support for older people offering friendship and company, activities and entertainment, outings and visits, theatre trips and exercise. Contact Rachel on 01952 879873 Shifnal ART Group - Fri’s 10am-12. £5.

Senior Citizens Hall, Curriers Ln. T&C. contact Jim 01952 463211.

Get Shifnal On Line - Free computer lessons are on offer from local volunteers in Shifnal library. If you have no knowledge of computers, but would like to learn at your own pace, call 07805 632225.

Shifnal Crime Prevention Panel meets on the 4th Wednesday each month at 8pm at the Park House. Anyone interested in keeping Shifnal’s crime figures low is welcome to attend.

Contact 01952 462988 for details.

Carers` Group meets every last Tue of month, 2.30-4.30pm at the Old Fire Station, Shifnal. Contact Ivy 01952 750228 (daytimes only) for more details.

Shifnal Men’s Link - Meet 3 times a year (Feb, Jun & Oct) at Haughton Hall for a meal with a guest speaker.

Contact Chris Blake on 01952 463171 or email: info@shifnal-mens-link.co.uk Shifnal Ladies Link - Meet 3 times a year (Feb, Jun & Oct) at Haughton Hall for a meal with a guest speaker.

Contact Sue Blake on 01952 463171 or email: info@shifnal-ladies-link.co.uk Stagekids of Shifnal - for 6–16s meet every Thu during term time at The Youth Club, Bridgnorth Rd, Shifnal, 6–11 yr olds meet at 6.45pm-8pm, 12–16 yr olds meet 8pm-9.45pm. Contact Sandra on 01952 462759 Shifnal Millennium Sensory Garden The working party meets each month from March through to end of Nov on the 1st & 3rd Sat’s 9.30am-noon and the 2nd & 4th Thu’s 2.30-4.30pm.

Enthusiastic helpers welcome as supervision given. Contact Pauline - 01952 460914 or Angela - 01952 462627 for more details or just turn up on the day.

Shifnal Flower Club meet 4th Tue of every month at Shifnal Village Hall at 7.30pm. Professional Floral Art Demonstrations, Garden Visits & Outings, if you love flowers, come & join us. Call Sue Munslow on 01952 461076 Shifnal Flower Club Workshop is 3rd Tue of every month at Curriers Lane Room, Shifnal - 7.30pm. Learn how to produce your own floral arrangement.

Members £2, non members £4. Call Chris Finlan on 01952 750312.

Shifnal & District Male Voice Choir meet on Thu at 7.30pm at Idsall School (6th form common room). New recruits welcome. Contact Ged Heyes on 01952 586968, for further details.

St Andrews Church, Shifnal - Every Tue 10am – 12 noon Coffee and a listening ear in the Brooke Room.

Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal Every Wednesday 10am - 12 noon all welcome to drop in for a drink & a chat.

Ladybirds tots and toddlers meet every Friday from 10-11.30am at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal. All children under 5 and their carers are welcome.

St Mary’s Church Presbytery, Victoria Road, Shifnal - Coffee Morning every Thu. All welcome for a drink and a chat.

St Georges

at St Georges Methodist Church: Mon - 4pm Rainbows / 5.45pm Brownies (Contact: 01952 293944)

Wed - Snedshill & District Over 60’s Club - meet 1pm (T: 618221 - Lois Bull) 1st Wed of every month - St Georges WI meet in the Church Hall at 7pm contact Ede Robinson 01952 251467 for further details.

Thu - 6pm Guides / 7.45pm Morningside Ladies Choir (Contact 01952 619347) Thu - 9:30-11:30am - Little Fishes under 5’s group. For all pre-school children and their carers. Meets in the St Georges Methodist Church Hall. £1.50 per family to include snacks and drinks. Contact Kate on 07976 460777.

The Wellington Girls’ Brigade meet every Tue in term time from 6-8pm at Wellington Methodist Church. All girls welcome from 5yrs+. For more info. call Tracey on 01952 405178.

Wellington Evening Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 1st Tue of each month at 7.30pm at Belmont Community Hall, Wellington. Visitors welcome. Call 413686 for more info.

Wellington Central Townswomen’s Guild meet on the 2nd Tue of each month at 2.15pm at the Belmont Community Hall, Wellington. For more info call 01952 255438.

Trench

Other Areas

ATC meet at TA Centre, Territorial House, Trench, Telford between 18.45 - 21.30 every Tue & Thu night. Contact number for Sqn 01952 670720

Wellington

12th Dec - Wrekin & Telford SIngers Christchurch Wellington. 7.30pm £7.

Christmas concert.

Sunnycroft, 200 Holyhead Road, Wellington. Winter opening, House, garden & tearoom open 10.30am to 2pm Sat-Sun. Xmas Opening, 11-15 and 18-22 Dec. House, garden & tearoom open 10.30am to 3pm. Edwardian Xmas with decorations and carol singing. Standard N.T. admission charges apply.

Telford Railway Modellers Group Meets Mon to Thu 7.30-9pm. To find out more about us, our activities and how to join us, contact John Mason-Morris 0798 312 7434, email morris741@btinternet.com, or visit The Old Church Hall, Severn Drive, Dothill, TF1 3JP. Telford Lions Club - Meet on 2nd & 4th Monday each month at 8pm, at the Whitehouse Hotel, Watling Street, Wellington. To find out more about us, our activities and how to join us, t: 0845 833 9585 or email telford.lions@ yahoo.com Car boot sale – Every Sunday, Victoria Road and Nailors Row car parks – Contact Tel 01952 380934 U3A Wellington - 2nd Thu of each Month meeting at Belmont Community Hall, Wellington - 2pm. Just come along and see what’s on offer, or visit our website.

S.T.A.G.s (Strategic Tactical Adventure Gaming Society) one of the biggest wargaming clubs in the country.

Historical as well as Sci/Fanasty wargaming. Open every other Sun from 11am to 15.30pm, first visit is free, we meet at Belmont Hall in Wellington. www.freewebs.com/telford_stags/ T 01952 417417 Questing Knight Games Telford Mixed Voice Barbershop Club (Severn Harmony) meets every Mon from 7.30-9.30pm at the Old Hall School, Wellington, for music and enjoyment. Please contact Debbie Skeates 201582 or Peter Hughes 596104 for further info.

Craft Fair - First Sat of month, at Belmont Hall (top of New Street), 10am - 3pm. Good quality handmade items, refreshments and free entry.

Wellington Jade Singers ladies choir, meet weekly on Thu evenings 7.30-9.30pm Union Free Church Hall, Constitution Hill, Wellington, TF1 3BA, contact Chris Harris 07941 961461 or email jadesingers@btinternet.com Wrekin Arts Photographic Club meets every Friday at 8pm at the Belfrey Arts Centre Wellington (Sep to Jun). Details from Sheila Thomas on 01952 617170 or www.wrekinartspc.com Eyton & Wellington WI meet 2nd Wed of every month, 7.30pm at Wellington Civic Centre.

Belmont Community Hall in Wellington - meet every Fri 11.45am-4pm - Over 50’s, tea, raffle, speakers, bingo etc.. £1.50 entry, also lunch available at £3.50 at 12pm - cooked on the premises. All welcome. For further details contact Margaret Atkinson on 01952 877409.

Parkinson’s Telford & Wrekin Support Group - We offer support and friendship to people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. Come along to our friendly group, meet other people affected

by Parkinson’s and get involved in a range of events and activities. Ketley Community Centre, 1-3pm on the last Tue of every month. T: 01952 253877 Telford Sign Cafe - want to practice your signing or are you a Deaf Sign Language user who would enjoy helping us! Enjoy a coffee and a chat. All abilities welcome. Meet 3rd Fri of month from 7pm, at The Home Organisation Coffee Shop, Lightmoor.

Contact Nikki: nikkibackhouse@ googlemail.com, 07791 724827 Learn to Sing - Various FREE workshops available to the MALE voice. Whether you can or can’t sing, don’t know if you can or just like to try it out. Contact - Geoff Avis (PRO – Telfordaires) on 0845 463 1618 Wrockwardine and District Garden Club - Meet on 1st Thu of each month at Wrockwardine Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Little Wenlock WI - meet 1st Wed of every month - in the Village Hall at 2pm, new members welcome - contact Diana on 01952 244136 for further details.

Severn Sisters WI - Meet every 3rd Wednesday, 7pm at Longdon On Tern Village Hall. For further info contact Paula Pierce 07841 528543 Volunteer and Make a Difference - if you could help Guide Dogs locally with fundraising, sighted guiding or other volunteer roles, please contact Valerie Jobes on 01189 838 756 or valerie. jobes@guidedogs.org.uk. Further info can be found at www.guidedogs. org.uk.

Temponilla a small S.A.T.B. vocal ensemble meet fortnightly on Sunday afternoons at 2-45pm at Sutton Hill Church, please see web www. temponilla.co.uk for calender of this years events, and contact details.

The Wrekin Decorative and Fine Arts Society meets at the Cold War exhibition hall at RAF Cosford Air Museum on the 3rd Mon of the mth at 2pm. Visitors £5. Contact: Louise Nixon 01746 783517 - www.nadfas-wm.org. uk/wrekin.html Telford and Wrekin Ladies Circle is all about fun and friendship – trying something new, relaxing with friends, fundraising & great days out. If you are between 18-45 and want to know more contact us at: tandwladiescircle@ hotmail.com - 07961 961475 or find us on Facebook.

Wrekin Writers meet 3rd Sat of month 9 till noon. Large friendly group that’ll help to motivate you with your writing. Visit www.wrekinwriters.co.uk or call Darren on 01952 405178.

To submit an entry to this feature please email your details to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk please put subject as WHATS ON on the email.

(Space is VERY limited, so brief details ONLY)

89

Local Health, Sport for beginners - advanced gymnasts.

Contact: 07905 956644 or email shootingstarsonline07@yahoo.com Piloxing (Boxing, Pilates & Dance) - Mon 6.30-7.30pm. Zumba - Thu 6.307.30pm. Hadley Methodist Church, £3.50. All abilities welcome! Debbie 07891 686812

Admaston

at Admaston House Community Centre: Mon: Yoga (evenings) Contact Janet Evans on 01952 245983 Wed: Weight Watchers 5.30pm & 7pm For further info. on above contact Derrick Powell on 01952 247908 or visit www. admastonhouse.org.uk

Church Aston

at Church Aston Village Hall: Mon 10am-11am Zumba Wed 9.30-10.25am Easy tone - over 50s & beginners Wed 10.30am-11.15 - Kettlebells Class - all over body workout using kettle shaped weight.

Contact Kim on 07795 225017 Mon 6-7pm Body Blitz (Toning) all levels welcome (equipment provided) Contact Nikki 07967 343728

Dawley

Touch Rugby - Telford RFC, Hinkshay Road, Telford TF3 3BZ. Wed 7pm ages 14 to adult Men and Women no previous experience required. £free. Just fun and fitness to be had!

Ballroom Social Dance Class - Dawley Town Hall, Sun 7.30-10.30pm. Call Donna on 01952 567920 Dawley Phoenix Badminton Club meets on Tues 7-9pm at the Hadley Learning Community, Crescent Rd, Telford, TF1 5JU. We support a good club standard of play using feather shuttles. New members and visitors are welcome. Please come along on Club Night or contact Clive Roscoe on 07552 761896.

Pilates Mon 7-8pm at Pheonix School. £30 block of 6 or £6 pay-as-you-go. Call Beryl on 01952 462896 or email beryl.feely@gmail.com.

Mons’ - 8-10pm - The Ironmen & Severn Gilders Morris dance team – great fun, all welcome, men and ladies, at Phoenix School, Dawley (TF4 3DZ) Call us on 01952 728179 or visit www. ironmenandseverngilders.org Dawley Christian Centre: Mon - GKR Karate 6.30-8pm Tue - Keep Fit 10-11am, Badminton Grp 7-9pm Wed - Zumba 8-9pm Thu 9am-12pm Help 2 Quit Smoking

Hadley

Daisy Birthing classes: Active Antenatal classes on Sat 10-11:30am at HLC. Suitable for all pregnant mums. Email: janette-davey@ thedaisyfoundation.com or phone 07808 066786.

Thu mornings at Telford Thai Boxing, Hadley 10-11am Yoga and 11:15-12:15pm Pilates. All ages and fitness levels welcome, including complete beginners. Contact - 07852 144119 or email iandglittleford@btinternet.com.

Indoor Bowls - Mon & Tue 2-4pm, at Hadley Restrooms. New members VERY welcome, free trial available. For more details contact Peter on 01952 242873.

Gymnastics Classes - Monday to Saturday,

90

Horsehay

Slimming World (Wed 9:30am and Thu 5pm & 7pm) at Horsehay Golf Club, Wellington Rd, Horsehay, Telford TF4 3BT Call Paula on 07791 743509

Jackfield

‘Tap into Health’ - EFT tapping workshops.

Relief from stress, pain and more. Wednesdays 10.30 - 11.30 at The Gorge Therapy & Training Centre. £5 or whatever you can manage on the day. Caroline 01952 881151 www.carolinerolling. com Mindful Meditation - Sooth mind, body and spirit. £5. At The GorgeTherapy & Training Centre. For more info contact: Diane 01952 881151 www.you-in-mind.co.uk 17th & 18th Jan - Reiki second degree, 21st & 22 Feb - Reiki first degree at The Gorge Therapy & Training Centre. For more information contact Angela at info@gorgetherapycentre.co.uk

Ketley

Over 50’s Class @ Ketley Methodist church, Waterloo Road, Ketley. Thursday 10-11am. Suits all fitness levels and is a great place to meet new people. £3 per session. Contact Cheryl on 01952 371325 or email cheryljauncey@yahoo. co.uk Slimming World - Ketley Methodist Church on Tue at 5.30 & 7.30pm.

Lawley

Baby Yoga at St. Johns Church Hall, Lawley – Mon 1-2pm, Adult Yoga Mon 8.15 to 9.15pm.

Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch.co.uk. www.mitchytitch.co.uk Mummy Movers - St Johns Church Hall, Wed: 7.30-8.30pm & Thu: 10.15-11.00am. Call: Laura 07929 154 536 / laura@mummymovers.com Website: www.mummymovers.com Zumba Classes (£4) - Wed - Lawley Community Centre - 6pm Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982, or email vikkiburnell@ymail.com.

Lightmoor Village

at Oak Tree Centre, Lightmoor Village: Mon: Hatha Yoga 7-8.30pm, drop-in £4 per session. Call/text Emma on 07590 437712 or emabyoga@yahoo.co.uk Wed: Help to Quit Smoking 5.30-6.30pm - for app’s call Rachel 07979 540496 Sat: Dance Classes 9-10.15am (7yrs+), 10.15-11am (3-6yrs)

Leegomery

Slimming World - Wed 5.30pm & 7.30pm at Leegomery Community Centre. Call Pam on 07854-896515 for more details.

Lilleshall

Adult Yoga class, Mon 10-11am at the Memorial Hall in Lilleshall. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch.co.uk. www. mitchytitch.co.uk Body Balance (Pilates, Yoga & Tai Chi) - Thurs 7-8pm at Lilleshall Memorial Hall, Contact Nikki: 07967 343728.

Lilleshall Village Tennis Club - Welcomes new members, Tues, Thurs evenings & Sunday

mornings. Junior & Adult Coaching – Saturday afternoons. Complete beginners course for Adults - Tues pm. For further details contact Pauline Coffey on 01952 604757 Lilleshall National Sports Centre - Sutherland Badminton Club - Tue evenings 8.30 - 10.30pm New members welcome. Contact: Amanda Haselock - 01952 677590 Premier Badminton Club are seeking new members. Tue evenings from 7:30pm at Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Contact Anthony 01952 526520 or Rob 01952 840453 www.premier badminton.co.uk Lilleshall Hall Table Tennis Club - meets Mon 7.15-10.15pm in the Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, 12 tables - coaches for juniors & beginners. Sessions £5 adults, juniors. Call Vicky 810355 or Don 416048.

Madeley

Bootcamp/Interval training classes at Bridal Road, Bridal Court, Madeley. Every Tue & Thu 7-8pm. Suits all fitness levels and great fun.

Contact Cheryl on 01952 371325 Abraham Darby Badminton Club - Social Play every Wednesday 7:15 to 9:15 at Abraham Darby Academy Sports Hall £4 per night. All welcome.

Slimming World- Jubilee House, Madeley High Street, Wed at 3.30,5.30 & 7.30 and Sat at 8.30 & 10.30 am.

Muxton

at St John’s Church Muxton: Bumps n Babes (NCT) 1-2:45pm (fortnightly), sessions £1.50 Slimming World (9.30, 5.30pm & 7.30pm) Call Paula on 07791 743509 Wed: Over 50’s Aerobics (10am) Newport Little Dragons Karate 5.30-6.30pm Thu: Movement Matters (exercise class) Fri: Sequence Dancing 8pm If you would like further info. on the above activities - contact the church on 01952 670033

Newport

Zumba Gold (easy) Fri 9.30-10.30am @ Cosy Hall Contact Nikki 07967 343728 Farmhouse Shotokan Karate Club, Moreton Millennium Community Centre and Burton Borough School, Newport - Tues, Fri & Sun. For all ages and abilities. Fully qualified and insured Instructors. First Lesson Free. Contact 07890 349451, email shropshirekarate@gmail.com or visit www.shropshirekarate.com Yoga Classes at Trinity Church, Wellington Rd, Newport: Mummy & Baby Yoga - Thu 1.30 – 2.30pm Dru Yoga classes - Fridays 7 - 8.30pm Contact Kate on 07989 514317, yogamebaby@ yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/yogame4families Pilates Thu 6.45-7.45pm & 8-9pm at the Back & Body Care Clinic. Small classes with increased individual attention. £42 block of 6 sessions.

Call Beryl on 01952 462896 or email beryl. feely@gmail.com Zumba @ Cosy Hall, Newport. Tue 6.30-7.30 Contact Nikki: 07967 343728.

Salopian Skimmers Frisbee Club are looking for new Male & Female players of all abilities.

Wed night at Adams Grammar Sports Hall.

18.30 to 20.00. First 3 sessions Free. For more info email drew.barlow@live.co.uk or join us on Facebook.

Fit 4 the Future exercise classes (at the studio near Focus). Mon: Jump ‘n Pump 7-8, Tue: Energize 6-7, Bootcamp 7-8, Wed: Box ‘a’ Blast 7-8, Thu: Energize 6-7, Box ‘a’ Blast 7-8. £4.50 per session. Please call Craig for details 07796 426299.

& Fitness Classes Oakengates

Slimming World (Sat - 9.30am) at Oakengates Rest Rooms, Charlton Street, Oakengates, Telford TF2 6BD - Call Paula on 07791 743509 Martial Arts Club ( Aikido ) at Oakengates Leisure Centre. Mon & Fri 7.45 / 8.45pm Juniors ( 7yrs+ ). Mon & Fri 7.45 / 10.00pm Adults. New members always welcome. First lesson is free. If you would like more info contact us on: 07929761302. Email us on suekeithhayward@sky.com

Overdale

Zumba Classes (£4) - Mon - The Carpenter Centre, Oak Road, Overdale, Telford at 6.307.30 pm. Call/text Vikki Connell on 07510 186982, or email vikkiburnell@ymail.com.

Priorslee

Wellington Badminton Club - Sports Hall at Holy Trinity Academy, Priorslee. Club nights Tuesday 8 - 10pm. All welcome. Contact: Pete Green (Chairman) on 07952 679821 or Jerry Seymour (Treasurer) on 01952 261008 (email: jandmeseymour@talktalk.net). Website: www. wellingtonbadminton.co.uk

Shawbirch

Shawbirch Community Centre: Tue - Antenatal Yoga (5:30-6:30pm), Yoga (7-9pm) Thu - Slimming World (5pm – 9pm) For further info. contact us on 01952 248538.

Shifnal

Thu 7-8pm Zumba at Shifnal Scout Hut with Nikki 07967 343728 Tue mornings at St Andrews Youth Club, - Yoga 9:30 - 10:30am and Pilates 10:45 11:45am. £5 per class or £8 for both classes.

All ages and fitness levels welcome, including complete beginners. Contact Gill on 07852 144119 or email iandglittleford@btinternet.com.

YOGA every Thu at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal Adults - 7.10-8.10pm, Pregnancy 6-7pm, Baby Yoga at St. Andrews Church, Shifnal every Wed 1-2pm. Contact Michele on 07970 731174 or email info@mitchytitch.co.uk. www.mitchytitch.co.uk Laughter Yoga - The fun way to good health.

Mon 7-8 pm. Tues 10.30 - 11.30 at Shifnal Seniors Club, Curriers Lane. All ages, all abilities. All welcome. £6 on the day or £24 for 6 weeks. Contact Caroline: 07868240605 info@gorgetherapycentre.co.uk Adult Fitness Classes at Idsall Sports Centre – METAFIT - Mon 6:30-7.15pm, YOGA - Tue 5.30-6.30pm, CIRCUITS - Wed 7.30-8.15pm, METAFIT - Thu 6.30-7.15pm. Everyone welcome! 1st Class FREE !!! 01952 460499 Shifnal Bowling Club - Social Bowling every Thu morning 10.30am-12.30pm. Junior Coaching Sat morning 11-12. All are welcome to our club young & old. Contact Graham McCarthy 01902 372 955 for details.

Martial Arts Club (Aikido) - Shifnal Aikido at Idsall Sports Centre, Shifnal. Mondays 7.30 – 8.30pm - Beginners classes. Contact sensei@ albrightonaikido.co.uk or 0845 678 0091. www. shifnalaikido.co.uk Wed - 10.30-11.30 Dance class - St Andrews Youth Club Hall. Exercises & short routines for fitness & pleasure, suitable 50+, £5. Contact Sally 01952 461768 or sallykinn@hotmail.co.uk for term dates.

Pilates Tue 7-8pm at Kemberton Village Hall. £30 block of 6 or £6 pay-as-you-go. Call Beryl on 01952 462896 or email beryl.feely@gmail. com Shifnal Cricket Club - Junior cricket coaching - Mon 6.30 to 7.30 for boys aged 8-11, 7.30 to 8.30 for boys aged 12 and 13. Girls coaching

and boys aged 14 and 15 Fri 6.30 to 7.30. For details please call Kevin Humphreys 07983 120061.

Idsall Badminton Club meet at Idsall Sports Centre, Shifnal - Tue 7-9pm. All we ask is that you play to a reasonable standard.

Ceroc Modern Jive and Salsa class nights at Shifnal Village Hall. Every Monday (exc Bank Hols) 7.45pm - 11pm. New members always welcomed and no need to bring a partner. Contact Mike on 07990 554459, email cerocmidlands@aol.com or visit www. cerocmidlands.co.uk

St Georges

Legs Bums & Tums Wed 6.15-7.15pm @ St George’s Cricket Club Contact Nikki 07967 343728 Slimming World - St Georges Sports & Social Club. Thu 9.30am, 11.30pm, 5pm and 7pm.

Contact Celia Powell on 07575 123666 at St Georges Methodist Church: Tue 5-7pm Synergy Dance Troop (Contact: 01952 612776) Wed - 10.30am Pilates (Tel: 412924) / 1.30pm Yoga Classes - St Georges Sports & Social Club. Fri 10-11am. Classes £3.75 each. Contact Paula: 07709 558017.

Email: paularushton2011@gmail.com www.facebook.com/fitnessandflexibility

Stirchley

Have fun – keep fit. Short Tennis Prime Time Club (over 60’s).

Tues 4.45-5.30pm and Sat 2-3pm at Stirchley Recreation Centre. Also Wed 7-8pm at Oakengates Leisure Centre and Fri 5-6pm at Phoenix Academy, Dawley. Novices very welcome. Call Kevin on 01952 825239, Tony on 07837 986059 or Vicki on 01952 618256 for further details.

Telford - Town Centre

AQUABABIES - Swimming lessons for children aged 12 weeks to 3 years. Lessons held at The Park Inn hotel on Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat from 10am. To book your FREE trial lesson contact Lisa on 07598 617442 or Stuart on 01543 572855

Trench

Interval Training class that suits any fitness levels - 6:30 to 7:30pm. At The Labour Club, Gibbons Rd, Trench. Proven to burn more fat than any other form of exercise. Also great fun too! Class costs £3.50. Contact Cheryl 07714 610591.

Wellington

KAPAP - Martial Arts Club held at TCAT, Haybridge Rd, Telford, TF1 2NP on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm. First session free trail.

Contact Paul - paul@kapaptelford.co.uk or 07737 825263.

Immerse School of Diving - we have a training and club diving session on a Friday evening at 8:30pm at Wrekin College pool. Call 0777 377 1619 or email: info@immersediving.com; visit www.immersediving.com find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/immersediving. An active and friendly scuba diving club, we cater for beginners through to professional level divers, and charge no membership fees or surcharges on your club diving.

Slimming World - Wed at TCAT Haybridge Road, Wellington, 5.30 & 7.30. Thu at Wellington Pool, Tan Bank, 5.30 & 7.30. Call Heather on 01952 289386 or just pop along!

All welcome.

Piloxing - techniques of boxing and vertical pilates with some dance moves. Fridays 6-7pm at Charlton School - £4. For more info

contact Annette on 07866 021030.

Stretch class - Sunday 10am to 11am at Purity Health and Fitness just off Holyhead Rd, Wellington. Class is aimed at increasing and maintaining flexibility and can help with joint discomfort too. Classes are £3.50 and MUST be booked in advance due to demand for spaces.

Wrekin Tennis Club - Social play every Tuesday & Thursday evening starting at 7-9pm & Sunday 11am-1pm. Based at Oakengates Leisure Centre New players welcome, Contact Alan Pritchard at: alanp52@yahoo.co.uk or 07596 984442 or visit our website, www. wrekintennisclub.co.uk Telford Community Tennis Club, Junior tennis coaching lessons at Bowring Park, Wellington on Sun - 10-11am (4-7yrs), 11-12am (8-10yrs), 121pm (11-16yrs). We also have sessions for adult members of all abilities. www.telfordcommunitytennisclub.co.uk E: bob.kerr@telfordcommunitytennisclub.co.uk Friendly Badminton group playing 7-9pm every Thu at TCAT Sports Hall are seeking new players to join them. Come along and try a few taster sessions at £5 per night. Contact Jenny Varley (evenings 6-7pm) on 01952 249277.

Wellington Badminton Club - Sports Hall at Holy Trinity Academy, Priorslee. Club nights Tuesday 8 - 10pm. All welcome. Contact: Pete Green (Chairman) on 07952 679821 or Jerry Seymour (Treasurer) on 01952 261008 (email: jandmeseymour@talktalk.net). Website: www. wellingtonbadminton.co.uk

Other Areas

Sutton Heights - Music4health singing for all ages and stages every Sat. Fee £10. 11am-12 and sound healing at 2pm-3pm please book before day. Contact Linda 01952 680232 or visit www.lindaangelis.com Telford Green Gym - Want to get and have Fun? Don’t like the Gym try the Green Gym. Improve your fitness and general well being by getting involved in practical conservation.

The Telford Green Gym offers activities all over Telford On Tue, Wed and Thu. Contact The healthy Lifestyles Hub 01952 382582 Arriba Wellness Club - Community Weight Loss Challenge at Fitness First, Telford. Call Lisa Harris on 07580 434325.

Yoga for Pregnancy in Albrighton - Weekly classes every Mon 8-9.15pm. Gentle exercise from weeks 15-40 of your pregnancy.

Methodist Church Hall, High St, Albrighton WV7 3JA. Classes from £7. Call Rebecca Jenks on 07890 543 508.

To submit an entry to this feature please email your details to: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk - please put subject as CLASSES on the email.

(Space is limited so brief details please)

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MOVIES

THE NIGHT BEFORE

It’s ‘The Night Before’ Christmas, and Ethan, Isaac and Chris are heading into New York City, as is their tradition, to drink too much and celebrate the holiday their way.

14 years ago, Ethan’s parents died on Christmas Eve, and his best friends have been with him every year since. But now, Chris has become a famous athlete. Isaac is about to be a father. So, they decide to end their tradition in spectacular fashion.

Release Date: 4th December 2015 Genre: Comedy Members: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Kaplan, Jillian Bell

SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN: THE PEANUTS MOVIE When a new girl arrives in town, Charlie seizes the opportunity to reinvent himself, stop being a loser and become a winner for a change. Predictably, things don’t exactly go according to plan, and he’ll need the help of his dog Snoopy if he’s going to have a chance at succeeding.

Release Date: 21st December Genre: Adventure, Animated, Comedy, Family Cast Members: Francesca Capaldi, Noah Schnapp, Venus Schultheis

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COMING SOON...

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

The seventh chapter in the saga, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ takes us back to the Galaxy Far, Far Away for the first time in a decade.

Thirty years after the death of the Emperor and the destruction of the second Death Star, there has been an awakening in the Force, leading Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia - along with a new generation of heroes - to fight the revived Dark Side.

Release Date: 17th December 2015 Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Cast Members: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher

THE REVENANT

Inspired by true events, “The Revenant” is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.

In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.

In a quest to survive, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald. Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.

Release Date: 15th January 2016 Genre: Adventure, Drama Cast Members: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Domhnall Gleeson, Lukas Haas Please note that release dates are subject to change and some previews may be shown earlier.

93

Notes from your local Muxton Councillor

Now, the words Christmas Lights and Muxton don’t usually go together. This year though there are lights by Muxton School, with a view to increasing the number of

Cllr. Nigel Dugmore (Muxton Ward) T: 01952 380237 M: 07528 979395 E: nigel.dugmore@telford.gov.uk

Do you have leaflets or flyers that you would like delivered with this magazine?

lights and locations in the future.

The next Muxton Police and Communities Together (P.A.C.T.) meeting is on 27th January at 7pm at St. Johns Church, Saltwells Drive. Please attend if you have any local issues you wish to raise with the local police and council representatives.

Prices from ÂŁ40 per 1000 For further details please contact

Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 E: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

May I take the opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Cllr Nigel Dugmore

The Solar Farm proposed at the rear of Granville Nature Reserve has been approved by the Planning Committee. This will mean some temporary inconvenience during the construction phase both in the Nature Reserve as cables are laid and on Muxton Lane due to construction traffic. I could not vote on the application as I am chairman of Granville Nature Reserve Management Committee; however I have asked for the size of the construction vehicles to be restricted due to the unsuitability of Muxton Lane.

LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION

PUZZLE - ANSWERS SUDUKO (EASY)

SUDUKO (HARD)

QUIZ - DETECTIVES

1. Kojak - Theo 2. Taggart - Jim 3. Starsky - David 4. Hutch - Ken 5. Lynley - homas 6. Wallander - Kurt 7. Morse - Endeavour 8. Rebus - John 9. Ironside - Robert 10. Columbo - Frank

CODEWORD

CROSSWORD

Down: : 1 Stevedore, 2 Consonant, 4 Rebus, 5 Conifer, 6 Dray, 7 Lent, 11 Acropolis, 12 Mass media, 15 Horizon, 18 Barge, 19 Spur, 20 Pith.

94

QUIZ - CHRISTMAS TV 1. Gavin And Stacey 2. The Simpsons

The colour with the most lights - red (11) The colour with the lest lights - green (3) There are a of total of (42) lights.

3. Charlie Brown (in A Charlie Brown Christmas) 4. David Walliams 5. Only Fools And Horses 6. Catherine Tate 7. Queen Elizabeth II (in 1957) 8. Archie Mitchell 9. An alarm clock 10. Wimbledon Common (the mispronunciation gave her the inspiration for The Wombles)

WORD LADDER Here is one possible solution (others may exist)

SHIP shop shot soot sort PORT

WORDWHEEL CONTENT

KIDS PAGE

Across: 3 Crocodile, 8 Thou, 9 Bandanna, 10 Vishnu, 13 Dingo, 14 Rebecca, 16 Rangoon, 17 Gross, 21 Alcove, 22 Spritzer, 23 Kiwi, 24 Archangel.

TRIAL

3 Letters 4 Letters arm roam mar roar maw warm mow worm oar 5 Letters ram armor raw arrow rom 6 Letters row marrow war

HIDATO

COMMUNITY & WHATS ON

Boost Your Income

IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

are run by volunteers, and the listing is free-of-charge which saves you money in comparison with eBay and Amazon.

It’s a very convenient way to declutter and make some extra cash if you don’t want the hassle of posting items, or simply want to sell locally.

Online surveys If you’re prepared to give your opinion on a wide range of products or issues, you might find that completing online surveys is a good cash-generator. There are plenty of survey sites to try, including Crowdology, Valued Opinions, and iSay. Many of these sites pay via PayPal and/or Amazon vouchers, but you’ll probably need to build up a minimum amount in your account before payment is made. In some cases this is just £3 or £4.

With Christmas fast approaching it’s worthwhile trying to boost your income to cover some of the cost rather than over-using your credit card. So to avoid a huge bill in January and get the New Year off to a good start, try one or two of these ideas and generate some extra cash.

Use cashback sites when buying your presents If you like to shop online at Christmas, you might be surprised by just how much cash you can get back when using sites such as Quidco and TopCashBack. There’s no charge to sign up, and depending on the item purchased you can get between 3% and 10% of your money back.

Once registered, you simply click through to a retailer and the purchase is tracked by the cashback site. The cash is then placed into your account, and paid out according to the terms of the company.

There is sometimes a minimum threshold that needs to be reached before your money is paid, however, so it’s worthwhile checking before you choose a site.

Generate extra cash on eBay and Amazon Not only will you declutter and make space for the next influx of presents, selling items online can generate some much-needed extra money at this time of year. There are hundreds of eBay categories, and once you get into a routine of photographing and describing your items, it’s possible to significantly boost your Christmas budget.

Amazon is great for selling books, CDs and DVDs that you no longer want, but they also offer hundreds of different item categories within their marketplace. If you have a lot of books to sell it can be quicker to list them on Amazon rather than eBay, as all you need to do is input the ISBN or title. The site then searches for the book and automatically adds postage, so all you need to do is write a short description.

Use the popularity of local Facebook pages Many people use Facebook to sell goods locally. It works like a classified ad – you list your item and local people come round to view it before purchasing with cash. The local online groups

Become a mystery shopper If you’ve got time to spare, this can be a lucrative sideline and offers a great deal of variety. Depending on the mystery shopping company, you could be carrying out a covert visit to a store, ordering a sandwich in Subway or checking out the service in your local bank.

It’s a really interesting way to boost your income, but does require some spare time. Some companies offer evening visits to restaurants or fast-food outlets – even weekends away to report on the level of service provided by leading hotels.

You’ll need to fill in a report online following each visit, and photograph or scan your receipts as proof that you’ve carried it out. Make sure that you read the instructions thoroughly before you set out, however, as you won’t get paid if you don’t follow them to the letter.

Turn your hobby into a business The UK arts and crafts scene has risen massively in popularity, and there is now a range of websites where you can sell your items. Folksy is one of the biggest of these in the UK, and offers lots of help to set up your account.

Once you’ve registered it’s a little like eBay in that you photograph your handcrafted items, write a description and add the postage amount before uploading for sale. It can be an enjoyable way to earn a little extra money, particularly if you’re already adept at jewellery-making or sewing.

Other websites you might want to consider are Etsy and RedBubble. If you prefer to sell in person, however, try a Christmas craft fair in your local area – there should be lots of trade and it helps that people can see the quality of items first-hand.

You’ll probably find that your local school or garden centre hold a craft event leading up to Christmas. Alternatively, bigger venues such as National Trust properties or stately homes in your area are also popular locations for craft fairs all year round.

These are just a few ideas for boosting your income – try picking one or two and you might find that you’ve got some money to spare in January. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/make-money

by Ann Haldon

95

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plumbing bathrooms repairs painting / decorating garden work CALL OUTS Lettings approved

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call Karl on: 07914 492367 E: cknhomeservices@gmail.com

JBO Services

Quality uPVC IN WHITE/WOODGRAIN/OAK

Full security features on all products

10 YEAR INSURANCE BACKED GUARANTEE Optional full installation service Family business with over 75 years experience.

Fully fitted windows from

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• TV Aerials, Satellite Installations • Plasma LCD TV Installations • Multi-Room Video (HD) Distribution • High Definition FreeView / FreeSat • Surround Sound System Setup • Full Home Cinema Installations

Audio Visual Installations Expert Help & Advice FREE Quotations

Call Jeremy on 01952 228936 or 07860 577169 E: jbo.services@yahoo.co.uk

All work carried out is guaranteed for 12 months

FIND US AT LOCAL EVENTS

Home Inspirations

Last Sat of every month we are at The Telford Town Centre Farmers & Craft Market (outside Primark)

Call Michelle on 01952 670067 or 07961 848467 E: michelle@homeinspirations.biz www.homeinspirations.biz

M RAW O R

You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 10 4 letters: 4 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1

Are you interested in delivering this magazine?

Contact us to join our waiting list for delivery people?

Call Fleur Abel on 01952 603457 or email: fleur@inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

www.inandaroundmagazine.co.uk

Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604).

MUSIC TUITION

FIX-UR-DENT

by Alex Price

SAME DAY DENTURE REPAIRS (usually about an hour)

Local Secondary School Music Teacher

Express Denture Repairs

Instrumental tuition for all ages and abilities on Piano, Keyboard, Guitar, Clarinet and Saxophone

‘Good as New’ Renovations, Copy Dentures

NEW Home Tooth Whitening System!!

8-10 Haygate Rd, Wellington TF1 1QA T: 01952 253522 NOW Open in Bridgnorth - 27 Castle St, WV16 4AD T: 01746 764334

DBS checked (formerly CRB)

Call Alex on 01952 462172 for further details E: apricemusic@btinternet.com

MASALA

Adams House 7 High St INDIAN RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY Newport T: 01952 820085 TF10 7AR

Domestic & Commercial Cleaning Service Reliable, honest & friendly staff Let us do the jobs you hate Hours to suit you Daily, weekly or monthly cleans

NOW TAKING CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS

*

Ironing Service also available

ADULTS £19.95 • Children £9.95 (children under 12) 50% DEPOSIT FOR ADVANCED BOOKINGS

Competitive Hourly Rates References Available Fully Insured

General Cleaning Internal Windows Landlord Cleans

T: 07985 772256 Is your furniture looking old and worn? Don’t throw it out - have it re-upholstered!

Grandfather, Father & Son - over 135 years of experience in the Upholstery Trade

Dining in - off main course. Only for bookings.

Please present advert. Not to be used with any other offers. Valid until 15-12-15

FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

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Choice of English or Indian Set Menu

Free Home Visits and Quotes Specialist Tools and Expert Fitting

NO JOB TOO SMALL

Also commercial work - pubs, clubs, hotels etc..

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PROMPT AND www.pjsreupholsteryservices.co.uk PERSONAL SERVICE

NOW AT: 27 Market St, Oakengates, Telford, TF2 6EN

T: 01952 618191

www.allfloorsnrugs.com

TEL: 01952 604285

d o o w h c Wy

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BOARDING KENNELS & CATTERY

Kynnersley Drive, The Hincks, Lilleshall, Newport TF10 9HS

NRC

NTC

NEWPORT REPAIR CENTRE

NEWPORT TEST CENTRE

Timing Belts / MOT Repairs / General Repairs / Servicing / Head Specialist Clutch Replacement

MOTs for Diesel and Petrol Vehicles

Call Mick Parkes

01952 814666

4 Wheel Laser Tracking Family Run Businesses Call Craig Parkes

01952 820717

Unit 3, Springfield Industrial Estate, Newport, TF10 7NB

Giving your loved one award winning care and help in their own home Services Include:

Home Help · Personal Care · Companionship and Conversation · Transportation · Shopping · Meal Preparation · Light Housework · Sleepovers · Specialist Dementia Care · Post Operative Care · Respite · Cancer Care · Long Term Conditions & Disability Support

Contact us today on 01952 581112 or email: jenny.ballantine@homeinstead.co.uk www.homeinstead.co.uk/eastshropshire

Contact: 01952 840869/07445 286435

CutMyKey.com • Car/Van/Truck - All makes covered • Fully mobile service - 24/7 • Keys cut on-site while you wait Please present • Professional Vehicle Entry this advert • Qualified Locksmith • Affordable Pricing

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Index of Advertisers Accountant FC Accountancy Services..........................65

Electrical Appliances Domestic Electrics........................................53

Loft Ladders/Boarding Jakes n Ladders............................................ 84

Audio / Visual Goods & Services JBO Services.................................................. 96

Electricians Aquaspark........................................................76 Buzz Electrical Contractor........................85 Del Corley Electrical Services...................85

Logs Holts...................................................................57

Bathrooms A. Watson Home Improvements..............81 Aquaspark Bathrooms................................76 Indulge Interiors............................................72 Summer House Baths & Taps...................73 Beauty Ashley Gamble................................................. 7 Beauty by Jude...............................................13 Escape................................................................. 5 Heaven................................................................11 Bedrooms Dream Kitchens & Bedrooms....................71 Indulge Interiors............................................72 Builder/Construction Telford Maintenance Ltd.............................83 Carpet, Rugs & Floor Coverings All Floors n Rugs...........................................97 Dave’s Carpets...............................................55 Oakengates Carpets....................................53 Cars (Parts/Repairs/Servicing/MOT) Delamere Motors...........................................36 N R C / N T C..................................................97 Priorslee Motor Service..............................39 Cars Sales (New/Used) CD Car Sales....................................................41 Mercedes Benz of Shrewsbury................37 Car Hire / Executive Travel Image Luxury Car Hire ................................41 TVR - Telford Vehicle Rentals...................35 Care Home Sambrook House...........................................47 Children’s Parties/Family Activities Gaming 2 U......................................................67 Ironbridge Museums................................... 69 Telford Ice RInk..............................................67 Chimneys / Installation of Log Burners ALC Chimneys................................................75 Chiropractic Newport Chiropractic..................................42 Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87 Shaw Clean - Tim Shaw..............................83 Sparkles............................................................97 Sutherlands Clean Carpets........................85

Estate Agents & Property Barker Healey................................................ 30 Crest Nicholson...............................................31 Julia Weston....................................................32 Lioncourt Homes...........................................33 Fascias & Guttering Telford Seamless Gutters............................81 Farm Shop/Markets/Food Fayre Green Fields Farm Shop........................18/21 Shrewsbury Christmas................................22 Whitegate Farm Shop.................................26 Fireplaces, Fires & Stoves Admaston Firecraft Centre........................79 ALC.....................................................................75 Grate Ideas..................................................... 99 Footcare PM Orthotics.................................................. 49 Telford Footcare............................................42 Funeral Directors L. Tranter & Sons............................................. 2 Garden, Plants & Building Supplies Bloomsbury Nursery....................................57 GS & PA Reeves.............................................59 Jewsons.............................................................. 3

Physiotherapy SB Sports Injury & Physio. Clinics.......... 46 Plumbing & Heating A. Watson Home Improvements..............81 Aquaspark........................................................76 Your Plumber...................................................81 Printing TEAL Design, & Print..................................... 2 Property Maintenance CKN................................................................... 96 Telford Maintenance Ltd.............................83

Hairdressers Ashley Gamble................................................. 7 Escape................................................................. 5

Sceptic Tanks SP Holdings.....................................................58

Health & Fitness Forever Living................................................ 45 Ideal Fitness................................................... 45 Supple Fitness............................................... 45

Decorating Neil Rogers..................................................... 80 Simon’s Décor .............................................. 80 WE Dunne....................................................... 80

Ice RInk Telford Ice RInk..............................................67

98

Paving Central Paving................................................59 JJS Groundworks......................................... 96

Roofing M & R Roofing & Son...................................87 TSG - Roofing..................................................81

Home Care Home Instead.................................................97 Supreme Home Care....................................47

Dry Cleaners Pritchards..........................................................61 Shifnal Laundry/Madeley Laundry.........62

Oven Cleaning Active Cleaning..............................................87

Granite Worktops Dream Kitchens & Bedrooms....................71 Flintstone..........................................................71

Gas Safe Engineer Your Plumber...................................................81

Curtains, Blinds & Interiors PJ Blinds...........................................................53 With Love Interiors.......................................53

Doors The Door Store...............................................79

Optician Tim Vanes Opticians................................... 49

Glass & Glazing Darwin Glass & Glazing...............................83

Gardening/Landscaping A J Landscapes..............................................57 Gardenhand.................................................... 96 Jack Wells....................................................... 96

Home Accessories & Gifts Home Inspirations........................................ 96

Design & Print ETAK Creative................................................63 TEAL Design & Print...................................... 2

Music Tuition Alex Price.........................................................97

Restaurants/Pubs/Cafes Granary Grill.....................................................19 Hadley Park House.......................................23 Masala................................................................97 Masala Magic............................................ 24-25 Taste of Paradise...........................................22 Telford Hotel & Golf Resort.......................29 The Huntsman................................................27 The New Inn....................................................29 The Orchard............................................... 16-17 The White House Hotel...............................27

Councillors Local Councillors.......................................... 94

Dentist Fix-ur-dent.......................................................97 Parkdale Dental Clinic................................ 43

Marketing ETAK Creative................................................63

I.T. Support Services/Repairs FreeYourNet....................................................62

Solicitor Parry Carver Solicitors................................65 Terry Jones Solicitors..................................65 Taxis / Executive Travel Go Carz..............................................................41 Image Luxury Car Hire ................................41 Tool Hire Jewsons.............................................................. 3 Tree Care Holts Tree Care...............................................57 Upholstery PJ’s Re-Upholstery Services......................97

Jewellers Lloyd Jewellers...............................................13

Websites ETAK Creative................................................63 Kalidescope.....................................................63

Kennels & Cattery Wychwood.......................................................97

Weddings Hadley Park House Hotel............................. 8

Kitchens (Supply & Fit) Dream Kitchens & Bedrooms....................71 Kitchen Depot............................................. 100 R & R Kitchens................................................77

Window Cleaning Aqua Sheen.....................................................87

Locksmiths Cut My Key......................................................97

Windows/Doors/Conservatories APH Windows................................................72 R & R Services................................................77 Trotfield Windows.........................................76

A range of Solid Fuel Stoves are NOW available

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Castle Trading Estate, Holyhead Road, Priorslee, Telford TF2 9NP

T: 01952 620189

Email: enquiries@grateideas.co.uk 99

Kitchen Recipe

Take some...

Traditional values and service Established in 2003, The Kitchen Depot is a family-owned and run business that remains true to our founding values of honesty, integrity and sheer professionalism.

We take immense pride in our reputation for service and commitment to our customers, with more than half of our business coming from customer recommendations to their family and friends.

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Quality and Value

All of our kitchens are manufactured to an exceptionally high German specification, on site, in our own factory and by our own people.

That way, we have total control over the product quality, the production timescales AND the manufacturing costs. With no middle-man – you buy direct and we are able to pass these time and cost savings directly onto our customers.

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Ownership and Responsibility

Unusual in this insincere world, admittedly.

But we mean it. We are totally committed to providing you with the best kitchen, at the best price, installed with the highest level of service and professionalism. And on the exceptionally rare occasion that something could have been done better – we hold our hands up – and put it right.

Fast. No fuss. No hassle. No argument. Just sorted.

...a soupçon of…Harmony At The Kitchen Depot, we know that we are only as good as our people. They ARE The Kitchen Depot brand. That’s why we look after our staff every bit as well as we look after our customers. Because we know that happy workers, pulling together in harmony, make for happy customers.

THE KITCHEN DEPOT Global House, Horton Road off Trench Road, Telford TF2 6PD

BRANCHES ALSO AT Ennerdale Road, Shrewsbury SY1 3NP & Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Glasgow

NOW OPEN 7 DAYS

LOW, LOW PRICES ALL YEAR ROUND! Fictional Sales, factory clearances, scoop purchases and all that gimmicky nonsense has no place at The Kitchen Depot. We’ll leave that to our envious competitors. All you get from us is good, honest advice, a top-quality product that we manufacture ourselves, responsibly and professionally installed, guaranteed for a full twenty five years, and at the lowest , most competitive price on like-for-like quality that you’ll find anywhere. In other words – sheer value.

www.thekitchendepot.co.uk

WHY NOT COME IN TO O UR SHOWROOM AND TASTE THE E XPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF? 100

THE KITCHEN DEPOT  FOR THE PERFEC T KITCHEN RECIPE